Abstract: An ion beam apparatus may include a chamber assembly configured to hold a material and direct an ion beam on the material, a detector configured to detect a signal generated from the material based on the ion beam being directed on the material, and a controller configured to control at least one parameter associated with the chamber assembly based on the signal, such that at least one of an ion energy associated with the ion beam, an ion current associated with the ion beam, and an incident angle of the ion beam with respect to a top surface of the material is changed continuously with time.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a conductive structure on a substrate, an etch stop layer on the conductive structure, an insulation layer on the etch stop layer, and a contact plug extending through the etch stop layer and the insulation layer and contacting the conductive structure. The contact plug may include first and second conductive pattern structures sequentially stacked and contacting with each other. A width of an upper surface of the first conductive pattern structure may be greater than that of a lower surface of the second conductive pattern structure. At least an upper portion of the first conductive pattern structure may have a sidewall not perpendicular but inclined to an upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An etching target layer is formed on a substrate. An upper mask layer is formed on the etching target layer. A plurality of preliminary mask patterns is formed on the upper mask layer. The plurality of preliminary mask patterns is arranged at a first pitch. Two neighboring preliminary mask patterns of the plurality of preliminary mask patterns define a preliminary opening. An ion beam etching process is performed on the upper mask layer using the plurality of preliminary mask patterns as an etch mask to form a first preliminary-interim-mask pattern and a pair of second preliminary-interim-mask patterns. The first preliminary-interim-mask pattern is formed between one of the pair of second preliminary-interim-mask patterns and the other of the pair of second preliminary-interim-mask patterns.

Abstract: In an example embodiment a method of processing a substrate includes forming a plasma in a plasma chamber and using charged grids to form an ion beam and to thereby accelerate ions from the plasma chamber to a processing chamber. An auxiliary heater, which may be a radiant heater, may be used to pre-heat a grid to a saturation state to accelerate heating and concomitant distortion of the grid. A process recipe may pre-compensate for distortion of the grid.

Abstract: In an example embodiment a method of processing a substrate includes forming a plasma in a plasma chamber and using charged grids to form an ion beam and to thereby accelerate ions from the plasma chamber to a processing chamber. An auxiliary heater, which may be a radiant heater, may be used to pre-heat a grid to a saturation state to accelerate heating and concomitant distortion of the grid. A process recipe may pre-compensate for distortion of the grid.

Abstract: A method of forming fine patterns includes forming an upper mask layer on a substrate, forming preliminary mask patterns on the upper mask layer, and forming upper mask patterns by etching the upper mask layer using the preliminary mask patterns as etch masks. Forming the upper mask patterns includes etching the upper mask layer by performing an etching process using an ion beam. The upper mask patterns include a first upper mask pattern formed under each of the preliminary mask patterns, and a second upper mask pattern formed between the preliminary mask patterns in a plan view and spaced apart from the first upper mask pattern.

Abstract: An ion beam apparatus may include a chamber assembly configured to hold a material and direct an ion beam on the material, a detector configured to detect a signal generated from the material based on the ion beam being directed on the material, and a controller configured to control at least one parameter associated with the chamber assembly based on the signal, such that at least one of an ion energy associated with the ion beam, an ion current associated with the ion beam, and an incident angle of the ion beam with respect to a top surface of the material is changed continuously with time.

Abstract: An ion beam apparatus may include a chamber assembly configured to hold a material and direct an ion beam on the material, a detector configured to detect a signal generated from the material based on the ion beam being directed on the material, and a controller configured to control at least one parameter associated with the chamber assembly based on the signal, such that at least one of an ion energy associated with the ion beam, an ion current associated with the ion beam, and an incident angle of the ion beam with respect to a top surface of the material is changed continuously with time.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device that includes at least a lower contact plug on a semiconductor substrate, a magnetic tunnel junction of the lower contact plug, and a barrier pattern on a sidewall of the lower contact plug may further include an insulation pattern on the sidewall of the lower contact plug. The insulation pattern may be between the barrier pattern and the magnetic tunnel junction pattern. The insulation pattern may include an upper portion and a lower portion whose width is greater than a width of the upper portion.

Abstract: In an example embodiment a method of processing a substrate includes forming a plasma in a plasma chamber and using charged grids to form an ion beam and to thereby accelerate ions from the plasma chamber to a processing chamber. An auxiliary heater, which may be a radiant heater, may be used to pre-heat a grid to a saturation state to accelerate heating and concomitant distortion of the grid. A process recipe may pre-compensate for distortion of the grid.

Abstract: An etching target layer is formed on a substrate. An upper mask layer is formed on the etching target layer. A plurality of preliminary mask patterns is formed on the upper mask layer. The plurality of preliminary mask patterns is arranged at a first pitch. Two neighboring preliminary mask patterns of the plurality of preliminary mask patterns define a preliminary opening. An ion beam etching process is performed on the upper mask layer using the plurality of preliminary mask patterns as an etch mask to form a first preliminary-interim-mask pattern and a pair of second preliminary-interim-mask patterns. The first preliminary-interim-mask pattern is formed between one of the pair of second preliminary-interim-mask patterns and the other of the pair of second preliminary-interim-mask patterns.

Abstract: A method of forming fine patterns includes forming an upper mask layer on a substrate, forming preliminary mask patterns on the upper mask layer, and forming upper mask patterns by etching the upper mask layer using the preliminary mask patterns as etch masks. Forming the upper mask patterns includes etching the upper mask layer by performing an etching process using an ion beam. The upper mask patterns include a first upper mask pattern formed under each of the preliminary mask patterns, and a second upper mask pattern formed between the preliminary mask patterns in a plan view and spaced apart from the first upper mask pattern.

Abstract: Data storage devices are provided. A data storage device includes a dielectric layer on a substrate. The data storage device includes a plurality of data storage structures on the dielectric layer. The data storage device includes a conductive material on the dielectric layer. Moreover, the data storage device includes an insulation layer on the conductive material.

Abstract: An ion beam apparatus may include a chamber assembly configured to hold a material and direct an ion beam on the material, a detector configured to detect a signal generated from the material based on the ion beam being directed on the material, and a controller configured to control at least one parameter associated with the chamber assembly based on the signal, such that at least one of an ion energy associated with the ion beam, an ion current associated with the ion beam, and an incident angle of the ion beam with respect to a top surface of the material is changed continuously with time.

Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern of a semiconductor device, a first mask layer and an anti-reflective coating layer may be sequentially formed on a substrate. A photoresist layer may be formed on the anti-reflective coating layer. The photoresist layer may be exposed and developed to form a first preliminary photoresist pattern. A first ion beam etching process may be performed on the first preliminary photoresist pattern to form a second preliminary photoresist pattern. A second ion beam etching process may be performed on the second preliminary photoresist pattern to form a photoresist pattern. A second incident angle of an ion beam in the second ion beam etching process may be greater than a first incident angle of an ion beam in the first ion beam etching process. The anti-reflective coating layer and the first mask layer may be etched using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask to form a mask structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device that includes at least a lower contact plug on a semiconductor substrate, a magnetic tunnel junction of the lower contact plug, and a barrier pattern on a sidewall of the lower contact plug may further include an insulation pattern on the sidewall of the lower contact plug. The insulation pattern may be between the barrier pattern and the magnetic tunnel junction pattern. The insulation pattern may include an upper portion and a lower portion whose width is greater than a width of the upper portion.

Abstract: Data storage devices are provided. A data storage device includes a dielectric layer on a substrate. The data storage device includes a plurality of data storage structures on the dielectric layer. The data storage device includes a conductive material on the dielectric layer. Moreover, the data storage device includes an insulation layer on the conductive material.