Abstract: A self-aligned, nonvolatile memory structure based upon phase change materials, including chalcogenides, can be made with a very small area on an integrated circuit. The manufacturing process results in self-aligned memory cells requiring only two array-related masks defining the bit lines and word lines. Memory cells are defined at intersections of bit lines and word lines, and have dimensions that are defined by the widths of the bit lines and word lines in a self-aligned process. The memory cells comprise structures including a selection device, a heating/barrier plate layer and a phase change memory element, vertically arranged at the intersections of the bit lines and word lines.

Abstract: An a-Si film (20) is formed so as to straddle a gate electrode (12) formed of high thermal conductive materials on a substrate (10) via a gate insulating film (14). The a-Si is subjected to an RTA process with the irradiation of a halogen lamp and a laser annealing process with the irradiation of an excimer laser to obtain a p-Si film (24) by polycrystallizing the a-Si film (20). By performing two types of annealing, uniform polycrystalline of grains with an appropriate size may be obtained, even over a region of the gate electrode (12) in the a-Si film (20). When the obtained p-Si film (24) is used as an active layer of TFT (a channel region), a polycrystalline silicon TFT with a bottom gate structure having excellent characteristics may be obtained.

Abstract: A process for preparing a silicon surface for gate dielectric formation. The silicon is annealed in a hydrogen ambient prior to gate dielectric formation. The gate dielectric is then formed, along with other layers of the gate structure. The channel is then implanted with an ion implant through the gate material.

Abstract: To shift the bandgap of a quantum well microstructure, the surface of the microstructure is selectively irradiated in a pattern with ultra violet radiation to induce alteration of a near-surface region of said microstructure. Subsequently the microstructure is annealed to induce quantum well intermixing and thereby cause a bandgap shift dependent on said ultra violet radiation.

Abstract: The HF defect density in an SOI is reduced. An SOI having a thickness of 200 nm or less is annealed in an inert atmosphere at a temperature between the eutectic temperature (e.g., 966° C.) of a semiconductor metal compound (e.g., nickel silicide) formed from a metal and the semiconductor material of the crystal semiconductor of the SOI (inclusive) and the melting point of the semiconductor material (inclusive).

Abstract: A method of using amorphous carbon as spacer material in a disposable spacer process can include forming amorphous carbon spacers at lateral side walls of a gate structure over a substrate, implanting dopants in the substrate to form source and drain regions, ashing away the amorphous carbon spacers, and implanting dopants to form shallow structures in the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MOSFET semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode over a substrate and a gate oxide between the gate electrode and the substrate, forming source/drain extensions in the substrate, and forming first and second sidewall spacers. Dopants are then implanted within the substrate to form amorphitized source/drain regions in the substrate adjacent to the sidewalls spacers. The amorphitized source/drain regions are partially recrystallized, and laser thermal annealing activates the source/drain regions. The source/drain extensions and sidewall spacers are adjacent to the gate electrode. The source/drain extensions can have a depth of about 50 to 300 angstroms, and the source/drain regions can have a depth of about 400 to 1000 angstroms. Also, the recrystallization reduces the amorphitized source/drain regions by a depth of about 20 to 100 angstroms. A semiconductor device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode over a substrate, introducing dopants into the substrate, forming a tuning layer over at least a portion of the substrate, and activating the dopants using laser thermal annealing. The tuning layer causes an increase or a decrease in the amount of fluence absorbed by the portion of substrate below the tuning layer in comparison to an amount of fluence absorbed by a portion of substrate not covered by the tuning layer. Additional tuning layers can also be formed over the substrate.

Abstract: A process for forming a thin film transistor includes steps of (a) forming a gate on a portion of a substrate, (b) forming a gate dielectric layer, a semiconductor layer, a source, a drain, and a passivation in order on the substrate, and (c) proceeding a thermal treatment under atmosphere of a specific assistant gas. The specific assistant gas is one selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, steam, inert gases, and gas mixtures thereof. After providing the specific assistant gas during the thermal treatment, the process can improve the output property of the thin film transistor for avoiding double hump phenomenon.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconducting device on a substrate, where the improvement includes forming a strained silicon germanium channel layer on the substrate. A gate insulation layer is formed on top of the strained silicon germanium channel layer, at a temperature that does not exceed about eight hundred centigrade. A gate electrode is formed on top of the gate insulation layer, and the gate electrode is patterned. A low dose drain dopant is impregnated into the substrate, and activated with a first laser anneal. A source-drain dopant is impregnated into the substrate, and activated with a second laser anneal. After the step of activating the low dose drain dopant with the first laser anneal, an insulating layer is formed around the gate electrode, at a temperature that does not exceed about eight hundred centigrade, and a spacer is formed around the gate electrode. The spacer is formed of a material that is reflective to the second laser anneal.

Abstract: In producing TFT by crystallizing an amorphous silicon film by the action of nickel, the influence of nickel on the TFT produced is inhibited. A mask 104 is formed over an amorphous silicon film 102, and a nickel-containing solution is applied thereover. In that condition, nickel is kept in contact with the surface of the amorphous silicon film at the opening 103 of the mask. Then, this is heated to crystallize the amorphous silicon film. Next, a phosphorus-containing solution is applied thereto, so that phosphorus is introduced into the silicon film in the region of the opening 103. This is again heated, whereby nickel is gettered in the region into which phosphorus has been introduced. In this process, the nickel concentration in the silicon film is reduced.

Abstract: A process for direct integration of a thin-film silicon p-n junction diode with a magnetic tunnel junction for use in advanced magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells for high performance, non-volatile memory arrays. The process is based on pulsed laser processing for the fabrication of vertical polycrystalline silicon electronic device structures, in particular p-n junction diodes, on films of metals deposited onto low temperature-substrates such as ceramics, dielectrics, glass, or polymers. The process preserves underlayers and structures onto which the devices are typically deposited, such as silicon integrated circuits. The process involves the low temperature deposition of at least one layer of silicon, either in an amorphous or a polycrystalline phase on a metal layer. Dopants may be introduced in the silicon film during or after deposition.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a heater which heats a substrate through a susceptor on which the substrate is placed. The heater is divided into a plurality of zone heaters, and a reflecting member is interposed between at least two of the plurality of zone heaters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat-treating a semiconductor substrate to heat different areas of the substrate at different temperatures. The method includes using an apparatus having a chamber of a refractory material; a support plate located at a lower side in the chamber for supporting the semiconductor substrate; a heating device disposed at an upper side in the chamber; and, a heat resistance mask provided between the support plate and fabricated to have different heat transmission rates therein.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device capable of fabricating a semiconductor device including a polycrystalline semiconductor film having excellent characteristics with a high yield is provided. A first amorphous semiconductor film is formed on a substrate. A conductive film is formed on the first amorphous semiconductor film. The conductive film is irradiated with an electromagnetic wave such as a high-frequency wave or a YAG laser beam thereby making the conductive film generate heat and converting the first amorphous semiconductor film to a first polycrystalline semiconductor film through the heat. Thus, polycrystallization is homogeneously performed without dispersion through the heat from the conductive film irradiated with the electromagnetic wave. Consequently, an excellent first polycrystalline silicon film can be formed with an excellent yield.

Abstract: A method of forming a doped polycrystalline silicon gate in a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) device. The method includes forming first an insulation layer on a top surface of a crystalline silicon substrate. Next, an amorphous silicon layer is formed on top of and in contact with the insulation layer and then a dopant is introduced in a top surface layer of the amorphous silicon layer. The top surface of the amorphous silicon layer is irradiated with a laser beam and the heat of the radiation causes the top surface layer to melt and initiates explosive recrystallization (XRC) of the amorphous silicon layer. The XRC process transforms the amorphous silicon layer into a polycrystalline silicon gate and distributes the dopant homogeneously throughout the polycrystalline gate.

Abstract: An N-channel radiation-hardened transistor has source and drain regions that are fully enclosed by an intrinsically radiation-hardened thin gate-oxide, which substantially reduces radiation-induced intra-device and inter-device leakage currents. The width of the polysilicon gate directly between the source and drain can be the minimum feature size allowed by the design rules of a given process. The width of the polysilicon surrounding the device is chosen by design rules from the minimum allowed to some wider value to allows the polysilicon overlap to be sufficient to self-align the source and drain without compromising the doping under the field region. The polysilicon should be sufficiently wide so that it completely overlaps any transitional oxide such as LOCOS or trench oxide. The gate capacitance of the N-channel transistor can be tuned to balance SEU hardness and switching performance.

Abstract: A substrate to be processed in a high temperature processing chamber is preheated to avoid the problems associated with thermal shock when the substrate is dropped onto a heated susceptor. Preheating is effected by holding the substrate over a susceptor maintained at or near the processing temperature until the temperature of the substrate approaches the processing temperature. Thus, wafer warping and breakage are greatly reduced, and wafer throughput is improved because of time saved in maintaining the susceptor at constant temperature without cool down and reheat periods.

Abstract: According to a structure of the present invention disclosed in this specification, there is provided a laser irradiation apparatus, characterized by including: a plurality of lasers; a unit for controlling oscillation of the plurality of lasers; a unit for synthesizing a plurality of laser lights emitted from the plurality of lasers into a laser light; a unit for condensing the laser light on an irradiation surface or in the vicinity of the irradiation surface; and a unit for moving the laser light at least in one direction. Laser light irradiation is performed to a semiconductor film by using the above-described laser irradiation apparatus, whereby crystallization of the semiconductor film and activation of an impurity element can be performed.

Abstract: A method of irradiation of plural pulse laser beams onto one position of a non-single crystal semiconductor, wherein the pulse laser beams are not higher in energy density than an energy density threshold value necessary for causing a micro-crystallization of the non-single crystal semiconductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduced leakage current is obtained by forming a non-uniform channel doping profile. A high impurity region of the opposite conductive type of a source region is formed between the channel region and source region by transient enhanced diffusion (TED). The high impurity region substantially reduces the threshold voltage rolling off problem.

Abstract: This invention embodies an improved process for annealing integrated circuits to repair fabrication-induced damage. An integrated circuit is annealed in a pressurized, sealed chamber in which a forming gas comprising hydrogen is present. Pressurization of the chamber reduces the contribution made by the final anneal step to total thermal exposure by increasing the diffusion rate of the hydrogen into the materials from which the integrated circuit is fabricated. Ideally, the forming gas contains, in addition to hydrogen, at least one other gas such as nitrogen or argon that will not react with hydrogen and, thus, reduces the danger of explosion. However, the integrated circuit may be annealed in an ambiance containing only hydrogen gas that is maintained at a pressure greater than ambient atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer on a substrate at an atmospheric pressure, including: providing a chamber having an opening portion and a stage therein; forming an amorphous semiconductor layer on the substrate; positioning the amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the substrate on the stage of the chamber; and irradiating five to twelve laser beam shots to every position of a desired portion of the semiconductor layer over the stage through the opening portion of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display panel that involves patterning a silicon film crystallized by sequential lateral solidification. The method comprises the steps of preparing a silicon film, crystallizing the silicon film by growing silicon grains on a slant with respect to a horizontal direction of the silicon film, and forming a driver and a pixel part using the crystallized silicon film wherein the driver and pixel part comprise devices having channels arranged in horizontal and perpendicular directions relative to the silicon film. The crystallized silicon film has uniform grain boundaries in the channels of the devices, thereby improving the products by providing uniform electrical characteristics of devices that comprise a driver and a pixel part of an LCD panel.

Abstract: A silicon film is crystallized in a predetermined direction by selectively adding a metal element having a catalytic action for crystallizing an amorphous silicon and annealing. In manufacturing TPT using the crystallized silicon film, TFT provided such that the crystallization direction is roughly parallel to a current-flow between a source and a drain, and TFT provided such that the crystallization direction is roughly vertical to a current-flow between a source and a drain are manufactured. Therefore, TFT capable of conducting a high speed operation and TFT having a low leak current are formed on the same substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing an SOI wafer having a low HF defect density using annealing in a reducing atmosphere. An SOI substrate is annealed in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature lower than the melting point of single-crystal silicon. To prevent any HF defects, a holding tool having a surface formed from silicon is used as a holding tool for holding the SOI substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical contact to semiconductive material includes forming an insulative layer over a contact area of semiconductive material. A contact opening is etched through the insulative layer to the semiconductive material contact area. Such etching changes an outer portion of the semiconductive material exposed by the etching. The change is typically in the form of modifying crystalline structure of only an outer portion from that existing prior to the etch. The changed outer portion of the semiconductive material is etched substantially selective relative to semiconductive material therebeneath which is unchanged. The preferred etching chemistry is a tetramethyl ammonium hydroxidde solution. A conductive material within the contact opening is formed in electrical connection with the semiconductive material.

Abstract: A substrate to be processed in a high temperature processing chamber is preheated to avoid the problems associated with thermal shock when the substrate is dropped onto a heated susceptor. Preheating is effected by holding the substrate over a susceptor maintained at or near the processing temperature until the temperature of the substrate approaches the processing temperature. Thus, wafer warping and breakage are greatly reduced, and wafer throughput is improved because of time saved in maintaining the susceptor at constant temperature without cool down and reheat periods.

Abstract: Reticles are selected for use in a wafer processing system based on the wafer-processing recipe and on the level of degradation exhibited by the reticle after multiple exposures to light and constant physical handling. In an example embodiment of an integrated reticle sorter and stocker, a scanner identifies the reticle and gathers dimensional data on each reticle. A sorter sorts reticles within reticle pods according to the processing recipe and stores the pods within a storage location in the stocker. A computer arrangement then records information from the scanner and the sorter and assesses whether any of the reticles has degraded beyond an acceptable level of usage.

Abstract: In order to fabricate a dynamic memory cell configuration with a long retention time, a hydrogen heat treatment of the wafer is carried out after the production of the interconnect system. The hydrogen heat treatment is performed in a PECVD reactor into which hydrogen is introduced and excited in the plasma. The heat treatment becomes more effective as a result and can be combined with deposition processes, in particular of passivation layers, carried out in PECVD installations.

Abstract: A laser-irradiation method which comprises a process for fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising: a first step of forming a thin film amorphous semiconductor on a substrate having an insulating surface; a second step of modifying the thin film amorphous semiconductor into a crystalline thin film semiconductor by irradiating a pulse-type linear light and/or by applying a heat treatment; a third step of implanting an impurity element which imparts a one conductive type to the crystalline thin film semiconductor; and a fourth step of activating the impurity element by irradiating a pulse-type linear light and/or by applying a heat treatment; wherein the peak value, the peak width at half height, and the threshold width of the laser energy in the second and the fourth steps above are each distributed within a range of approximately ±3% of the standard value. Also claimed is a laser irradiation device which realizes the method above.

Abstract: Regarding an element having a channel width W greater than a pitch P of a pulse laser beam, a direction of the channel width W of a channel region CH is inclined with respect to a direction of a major axis of a line beam LB. Consequently, even if a defective crystallization region R is caused by an nonuniform intensity of an irradiated region in laser annealing forming p-Si of a p-Si TFT LCD, the whole channel width W of the channel region CH does not overlap the defective crystallization region R. Therefore, even if the defective crystallization region R is generated, element characteristics are not affected. Thus, the manufacturing yield of an excellent p-Si LCD can be enhanced.

Abstract: Described are preferred processes for conditioning semiconductor devices with deuterium to improve operating characteristics and decrease depassivation which occurs during the course of device operation. Also described are semiconductor devices which can be prepared by such processes.

Abstract: A wafer processing system occupies minimal floor space by using vertically mounted modules such as reactors, load locks, and cooling stations. Further saving in floor space is achieved by using a loading station which employs rotational motion to move a wafer carrier into a load lock. The wafer processing system includes a robot having extension, rotational, and vertical motion for accessing vertically mounted modules. The robot is internally cooled and has a heat resistant end-effector, making the robot compatible with high temperature semiconductor processing.

Abstract: When a laser beam is irradiated onto a semiconductor film, a steep temperature gradient is produced between a substrate and the semiconductor film. For this reason, the semiconductor film contracts, so that a warp in the film occurs. Therefore, the quality of a resulting crystalline semiconductor film sometimes deteriorates. According to the present invention, it is characterized in that, after laser beam crystallization on the semiconductor film, heat treatment is carried out so as to reduce the warp in the film. Since the substrate contracts by the heat treatment, the warp in the semiconductor film is lessened, so that the physical properties of the semiconductor film can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a crystallization method of the poly-Si thin film in a thin film transistor. A substrate having an insulator layer is provided. An amorphous silicon layer or a micro-crystalline silicon layer having two thickness is first formed on the insulator layer. The region of thinner is defined as the channel region of the TFT, while the region of thicker can be defined as the source/drain regions of the TFT. Next, an excimer laser is used for crystallization. During the excimer laser irradiation, the amorphous silicon layer of thinner is completely melted, and the amorphous silicon layer of thicker is partially melted. The partially melted amorphous silicon layer is used as crystallization seeds.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor film, nickel elements are first held as indicated by 103 on the surface of an amorphous silicon film 102. Then a crystalline silicon film 104 is obtained by a heat treatment. At this time, the crystallization is remarkably improved by the action of the nickel elements. During this crystallization, nickel elements are diffused in a film. Then a thermal oxide film 105 is formed as a barrier film, and a silicon film 106 containing a high concentration of phosphorus is formed. By carrying out a heat treatment, the nickel elements in the crystalline silicon film 104 are transferred into the silicon film 106. In this way, the concentration of nickel in the crystalline silicon film 104 is lowered.

Abstract: A line beam is irradiated such that edge lines of the beam extend in a direction at an angle of 45° with respect to the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. As a result, a laser defective crystallization region R′ where the grain size has not become sufficiently large due to unevenness in intensity of the line beam passes at 45° across the carrier path connecting source and drain regions S and D to each other. The defective crystallization region R′ thus does not completely divide between the contact region CT, i.e., the carrier path between the source and drain regions. Therefore, a carrier path CP can be securely maintained without passing through the defective crystallization region R′, so that the ON-current is prevented from being reduced. Deterioration or unevenness in transistor characteristics caused by unevenness in intensity of laser irradiation can thus be prevented.

Abstract: A method and a device for locally heating a semiconductor wafer having a first region of a first impurity and a second region of a second impurity having a diffusion rate different from that of the first impurity. A field oxide layer, a P well and an N well, gate oxide layers, gate electrodes, an N-type region and a P-type region are formed in sequence on or in a silicon wafer. The wafer is placed into a chamber. Then, a mask, which has a pattern for blocking the radiation from the heat source to the N well of the wafer, is positioned between the heat source and the wafer. The heat source emits radiation for heating the wafer, thereby the donor-type dopant atoms in the N-type region are diffused with a diffusion depth of d2 to form an electrically active region, but the acceptor-type dopant atoms in the P-type region are not diffused. After this step, a mask, which has a pattern for blocking the radiation from the heat source to the P well of the wafer, is positioned between the heat source and the wafer.

Abstract: A silicon substrate including an impurity doped thereinto is raised in temperature to a predetermined annealing temperature, and then the temperature of the silicon substrate reaching the annealing temperature is decreased at variable speeds such that the temperature is decreased at a high speed initially and a low speed latterly. The temperature of the silicon substrate is decreased at such a speed as the impurity with a reduced solid solubility due to the decreased temperature is not acted upon by thermal energy to disconnect the impurity from the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor material and a method for forming the same, said semiconductor material having produced by a process comprising melting a noncrystal semiconductor film containing therein carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen each at a concentration of 5×1019 atoms·cm−3 or lower, preferably 1×1019 atoms·cm−3 or lower, by irradiating a laser beam or a high intensity light equivalent to a laser beam to said noncrystal semiconductor film, and then recrystallizing the thus molten amorphous silicon film. The present invention provides thin film semiconductors having high mobility at an excellent reproducibility, said semiconductor materials being useful for fabricating thin film semiconductor devices such as thin film transistors improved in device characteristics.

Abstract: There is provided an aluminum gate type thin film transistor integrated circuit having a matrix region and a region in which driving circuits thereof are formed wherein impurity regions are selectively formed on a semiconductor thin film in the form of islands and a gate insulation film is formed to cover the impurity regions. Further, a thermal annealing or an optical annealing is performed on the impurity regions and regions in which channels are to be formed adjacent thereto and the gate insulation film to improve the characteristics of those regions themselves and to eliminate discontinuity at the boundaries between those regions. After the above-described steps, gate electrodes are formed. An anodic oxide is provided at least at the portion of a gate electrode provided in the matrix region where it intersects with a line in the layer above it to prevent the gate electrode from shorting with the line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a transistor. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a substrate, the substrate being doped with a first type of dopant material, forming a transistor above the substrate in an active area of the substrate as defined by an isolation structure, and performing at least one ion implant process to implant dopant atoms in the substrate adjacent the gate electrode of the transistor. The method further comprises performing at least two angled ion implant processes on the transistor with a dopant material that is of an opposite type to the first type of dopant material and performing at least one anneal process.

Abstract: The instant invention describes a method for forming a dielectric film with a uniform concentration of nitrogen. The films are formed by first incorporating nitrogen into a dielectric film using RPNO. The films are then annealed in N2O which redistributes the incorporated species to produce a uniform nitrogen concentration.

Abstract: A method for deuterium sintering to improve the hot carrier aging of an integrated circuit includes (a) providing a partially fabricated integrated circuit structure comprising a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric layer formed on at least a portion of the substrate, the dielectric layer having at least one conductive material via plug formed therein and (b) sintering the structure in the presence of a gas comprising deuterium-containing components at high temperatures prior to a metallization layer being deposited on the structure.

Abstract: In a fabrication process of a semiconductor device for use in a TFT liquid crystal display system, before the start of crystallizing amorphous silicon (a-Si), dehydrogenation annealing is carried out to not only decrease the density of hydrogen in the p-Si film (13) to 5×1020 atoms/cm3 at most but also to prevent crystallization of the a-Si film (13) being obstructed due to possible excessive hydrogen remaining in the film. With the p-Si film (13) covered with an interlayer insulation film (15) in the form of a plasma nitride film, annealing is then carried out in nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 350° C. to 400° C. for one to three hours, more preferably 400° C. for two hours. The result is that hydrogen atoms in the p-Si film (13) efficiently terminate dangling bonds of the film and hence do not become excessive, thus improving the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor film, nickel elements are first held as indicated by 103 on the surface of an amorphous silicon film 102. Then a crystalline silicon film 104 is obtained by a heat treatment. At this time, the crystallization is remarkably improved by the action of the nickel elements. During this crystallization, nickel elements are diffused in a film. Then a thermal oxide film 105 is formed as a barrier film, and a silicon film 106 containing a high concentration of phosphorus is formed. By carrying out a heat treatment, the nickel elements in the crystalline silicon film 104 are transferred into the silicon film 106. In this way, the concentration of nickel in the crystalline silicon film 104 is lowered.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a front side 1, a back side 2, a top layer 3, a bottom layer 4, an upper inner layer 5 lying beneath the top layer 3, an lower inner layer 6 lying above the bottom layer 4, a central region 7 between the layers 5 and 6, and an uneven distribution of crystal lattice defects. The crystal lattice defects are substitutionally or interstitially included nitrogen or vacancies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of forming implants with Projection Gas-Immersion Laser Doping (PGILD) process that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art methods. In particular, the preferred method applies a reflective coating over features before the application of the PGILD laser. The reflective coating lowers the amount of heat absorbed by the features, improving the reliability of the fabrication process. The preferred method is particularly applicable to the fabrication of field effect transistors (FETs). In this application, a gate stack is formed, and a reflective coating is over the gate stack. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) is then applied over the reflective coating. The anti-reflective coating reduces variability of the photolithographic process used to pattern the gate stack. After the gate stack is patterned, the anti-reflective coating is removed, leaving the reflective coating on the gate stack.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for uniform direct radiant heating in a rapid thermal processing reactor where uniformity of temperature across the width and breadth of a semiconductor wafer is achieved by placement of a dome-shaped thermal insert in close proximity to a semiconductor wafer in process. Thermal energy is absorbed by the thermal insert from the semiconductor wafer at a high rate where the spacing between the thermal insert and semiconductor wafer is at a minimum and at a gradually reduced rate where the spacing between the thermal insert and semiconductor wafer is gradually increased. A guard ring is also incorporated to negate bottom side reflective thermal energy exposure.