Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method and apparatus for generating an abatement plasma downstream of a processing chamber using an RF plasma ignited and sustained with an integrated power oscillator circuit driven by feedback based upon a load of the abatement plasma. In one embodiment, a plasma ashing system includes an abatement system configured to receive an effluent byproduct from an upstream processing chamber containing a workpiece. The effluent byproduct is provided along an exhaust conduit to a downstream afterburner unit having an integrated power oscillator, that relies upon an oscillating circuit operatively coupled to an antenna to ignite the abatement plasma within the exhaust conduit. The antenna, together with the plasma load, form a resonant tank circuit, which provides a feedback that drives operation of the oscillating circuit, thereby allowing the oscillating circuit to vary its output based upon changes in the abatement plasma load.

Abstract: Beam current is adjusted during ion implantation by adjusting one or more parameters of an ion source. The ion beam is generated or provided by a non-arc discharge based ion source, such as an electron gun driven ion source or an RF driven ion source. A beam current adjustment amount is determined. Then, one or more parameters of the ion source are adjusted according to the determined beam current adjustment amount. The beam current is provided having a modulated beam current.

Abstract: An ion source is disclosed that utilizes a capacitive discharge to produce ignition ions, which are subsequently used to ignite an inductively coupled plasma within a plasma chamber. In some embodiments, a capacitive discharge element is located along a gas feed line at a position that is upstream of a plasma chamber. The capacitive discharge element ignites a capacitive discharge within the gas feed line. The capacitive discharge contains ignition ions that are provided to a downstream plasma chamber. An inductively coupled plasma ignition element, in communication with the plasma chamber, ignites and sustains a high density inductively coupled plasma within the plasma chamber based upon ignition ions from the capacitive discharge. Due to the ignition ions, the inductively coupled plasma element can easily ignite the high density inductively coupled plasma, even at a low pressure.

Abstract: Some techniques disclosed herein facilitate cleaning residue from a molecular beam component. For example, in an exemplary method, a molecular beam is provided along a beam path, causing residue build up on the molecular beam component. To reduce the residue, the molecular beam component is exposed to a hydro-fluorocarbon plasma. Exposure to the hydro-fluorocarbon plasma is ended based on whether a first predetermined condition is met, the first predetermined condition indicative of an extent of removal of the residue. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method and apparatus for generating an abatement plasma downstream of a processing chamber using an RF plasma ignited and sustained with an integrated power oscillator circuit driven by feedback based upon a load of the abatement plasma. In one embodiment, a plasma ashing system includes an abatement system configured to receive an effluent byproduct from an upstream processing chamber containing a workpiece. The effluent byproduct is provided along an exhaust conduit to a downstream afterburner unit having an integrated power oscillator, that relies upon an oscillating circuit operatively coupled to an antenna to ignite the abatement plasma within the exhaust conduit. The antenna, together with the plasma load, form a resonant tank circuit, which provides a feedback that drives operation of the oscillating circuit, thereby allowing the oscillating circuit to vary its output based upon changes in the abatement plasma load.

Abstract: An ion implantation method and system that incorporate beam neutralization to mitigate beam blowup, which can be particularly problematic in low-energy, high-current ion beams. The beam neutralization component can be located in the system where blowup is likely to occur. The neutralization component includes a varying energizing field generating component that generates plasma that neutralizes the ion beam and thereby mitigates beam blowup. The energizing field is generated with varying frequency and/or field strength in order to maintain the neutralizing plasma while mitigating the creation of plasma sheaths that reduce the effects of the neutralizing plasma.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for generating a plasma electron flood using microwave radiation. In one embodiment, a microwave PEF apparatus is configured to generate a magnetic field that rapidly decays over a PEF cavity, resulting in a static magnetic field having a high magnetic field strength near one side (e.g., “bottom”) of the PEF cavity and a low magnetic field strength (e.g., substantially zero) near the opposite side (e.g., “top”) of the PEF comprising an elongated extraction slit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more permanent magnets are located at a position that is spatially opposed to the location of the elongated extraction slit to achieve the rapidly decaying magnetic field. The magnetic field results in an electron cyclotron frequency in a region of the cavity equal to or approximately equal to a microwave radiation frequency so that plasma is generated to diffuse through the extraction apertures.

Abstract: A hybrid ion source, comprising a source body configured to create plasma therein, from a first material, wherein the first material comprises one of monatomic gases, small molecule gases, large molecule gases, reactive gases, and solids, a low power plasma generation component operably associated with the source body, a high power plasma generation component operably associated with the source body and an extraction aperture configured to extract ions of the ion plasma from the source body.

Abstract: An ion source includes a first plasma chamber including a plasma generating component and a first gas inlet for receiving a first gas such that said plasma generating component and said first gas interact to generate a first plasma within said first plasma chamber, wherein said first plasma chamber further defines an aperture for extracting electrons from said first plasma, and a second plasma chamber including a second gas inlet for receiving a second gas, wherein said second plasma chamber further defines an aperture in substantial alignment with the aperture of said first plasma chamber, for receiving electrons extracted therefrom, such that the electrons and the second gas interact to generate a second plasma within said second plasma chamber, said second plasma chamber further defining an extraction aperture for extracting ions from said second plasma.

Abstract: Some techniques disclosed herein facilitate cleaning residue from a molecular beam component. For example, in an exemplary method, a molecular beam is provided along a beam path, causing residue build up on the molecular beam component. To reduce the residue, the molecular beam component is exposed to a hydro-fluorocarbon plasma. Exposure to the hydro-fluorocarbon plasma is ended based on whether a first predetermined condition is met, the first predetermined condition indicative of an extent of removal of the residue. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An antenna array for a radio frequency plasma process chamber including, an array of electrodes, an array of dielectric tubes concentrically disposed about each electrode tube to define a chamber configured to be at atmospheric pressure between an outer surface of each electrode tube and an inner surface of the corresponding dielectric tube, and a hermetic seal between each dielectric tube and the plasma process chamber configured to allow a vacuum or low pressure environment in the plasma process chamber.

Abstract: An antenna array for a radio frequency plasma process chamber including, an array of electrodes, an array of dielectric tubes concentrically disposed about each electrode tube to define a chamber configured to be at atmospheric pressure between an outer surface of each electrode tube and an inner surface of the corresponding dielectric tube, and a hermetic seal between each dielectric tube and the plasma process chamber configured to allow a vacuum or low pressure in the plasma process chamber.

Abstract: A plasma electron flood system, comprising a housing configured to contain a gas, and comprising an elongated extraction slit, and a cathode and a plurality of anodes residing therein and wherein the elongated extraction slit is in direct communication with an ion implanter, wherein the cathode emits electrons that are drawn to the plurality of anodes through a potential difference therebetween, wherein the electrons are released through the elongated extraction slit as an electron band for use in neutralizing a ribbon ion beam traveling within the ion implanter.

Abstract: An ion implantation method and system that incorporate beam neutralization to mitigate beam blowup, which can be particularly problematic in low-energy, high-current ion beams. The beam neutralization component can be located in the system where blowup is likely to occur. The neutralization component includes a varying energizing field generating component that generates plasma that neutralizes the ion beam and thereby mitigates beam blowup. The energizing field is generated with varying frequency and/or field strength in order to maintain the neutralizing plasma while mitigating the creation of plasma sheaths that reduce the effects of the neutralizing plasma.

Abstract: An ion shower system is disclosed and comprises a plasma source operable to generate source gas ions within a chamber. The plasma source further comprises a plurality of conductor segments and a plurality of capacitors, wherein the conductor segments are serially connected through the plurality of capacitors. The plasma source further comprises an antenna drive circuit coupled to the plurality of conductor segments that provides power to the conductor segments and capacitors at a predetermined frequency. The ion shower system also comprises a source gas inlet that provides a source gas to the chamber. The conductor segments, capacitors and antenna drive circuit cooperatively provide energy to charged particles in the chamber, thereby energizing the charged particles and generating a plasma comprising source gas ions and electrons within the chamber due to ionizing collisions between the energized charged particles and the source gas.

Abstract: An elevated temperature RF ion source system, comprising an ion source body, an RF antenna coil external to the ion source body, a vacuum enclosure surrounding both the outside surface of the ion source body and the RF antenna coil, at least one power supply, a gas delivery system operatively coupled to the ion source body, a vacuum condition between the outside surface of the ion source body and the RF antenna coil, the RF antenna coil operatively coupled to the at least one power supply, and a water cooling system operatively coupled to the RF antenna coil and the vacuum enclosure.

Abstract: An ion beam is rapidly switched off during ion implantation on detecting a beam instability. The ion beam is generated or provided by a non-arc discharge based ion source, such as an electron gun ion source or an RF ion source. The ion beam is scanned across a workpiece from a starting location toward an ending location. During the scanning, one or more beam characteristics are monitored, such as beam current, beam flux, shape, and the like. An instability is detected when one or more of the beam characteristics deviate from acceptable values or levels. The ion beam is rapidly turned off on the detected instability.

Abstract: A deposit cleaning system for removing deposits from interior surfaces of ion sources and/or electrodes includes a fluorine source, a throttle mechanism, and a controller. The fluorine source supplies fluorine to the ion source as a cleaning material. The throttle mechanism mitigates loss of fluorine through a source aperture of the ion source by at least partially covering the source aperture. The controller controls the supply and flow rate from the fluorine source to the ion source and also controls the positioning of the throttle mechanism.

Abstract: A plasma electron flood system, comprising a housing configured to contain a gas, and comprising an elongated extraction slit, and a cathode and a plurality of anodes residing therein and wherein the elongated extraction slit is in direct communication with an ion implanter, wherein the cathode emits electrons that are drawn to the plurality of anodes through a potential difference therebetween, wherein the electrons are released through the elongated extraction slit as an electron band for use in neutralizing a ribbon ion beam traveling within the ion implanter.

Abstract: An ion source includes a first plasma chamber including a plasma generating component and a first gas inlet for receiving a first gas such that said plasma generating component and said first gas interact to generate a first plasma within said first plasma chamber, wherein said first plasma chamber further defines an aperture for extracting electrons from said first plasma, and a second plasma chamber including a second gas inlet for receiving a second gas, wherein said second plasma chamber further defines an aperture in substantial alignment with the aperture of said first plasma chamber, for receiving electrons extracted therefrom, such that the electrons and the second gas interact to generate a second plasma within said second plasma chamber, said second plasma chamber further defining an extraction aperture for extracting ions from said second plasma.