Gas cluster ion beam system with rapid gas switching apparatus
First Claim
1. A processing system for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), the system comprising:
- a first nozzle for forming and emitting gas clusters beams through an outlet thereof, and a stagnation chamber upstream of and adjacent the first nozzle and having an inlet, the first nozzle being configured to direct a gas cluster beam toward the substrate;
an ionizer positioned downstream of the outlet and configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB;
a first gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber and including a first gas source and a first valve between the first gas source and the first nozzle for controlling flow of a first gas between the first gas source and the first nozzle; and
a second gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber and including a second gas source and a second valve between the second gas source and the stagnation chamber for controlling flow of a second gas between the second gas source and the first nozzle,wherein the first and second valves are positioned to define a common gas-holding volume between the first and second valves and the inlet of the stagnation chamber, the common gas-holding volume being less than about 2 cm3 to thereby enable rapid evacuation and switching of gas to the first nozzle between the first gas and the second gas without mixing the first and second gases, andwherein the first and second valves are actuatable to permit selective supply of the first gas from the first gas source or the second gas from the second gas source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A processing system is provided for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). The system includes a nozzle for forming and emitting gas cluster beams through a nozzle outlet, and a stagnation chamber that is located upstream of and adjacent the nozzle. The stagnation chamber has an inlet, and the nozzle is configured to direct a single gas cluster beam toward the substrate. An ionizer is positioned downstream of the outlet and is configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB. The system also includes a gas supply that is in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber, and which includes a gas source and a valve located between the gas source and the nozzle for controlling flow of a gas between the gas source and the nozzle.
35 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A processing system for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), the system comprising:
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a first nozzle for forming and emitting gas clusters beams through an outlet thereof, and a stagnation chamber upstream of and adjacent the first nozzle and having an inlet, the first nozzle being configured to direct a gas cluster beam toward the substrate; an ionizer positioned downstream of the outlet and configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB; a first gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber and including a first gas source and a first valve between the first gas source and the first nozzle for controlling flow of a first gas between the first gas source and the first nozzle; and a second gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber and including a second gas source and a second valve between the second gas source and the stagnation chamber for controlling flow of a second gas between the second gas source and the first nozzle, wherein the first and second valves are positioned to define a common gas-holding volume between the first and second valves and the inlet of the stagnation chamber, the common gas-holding volume being less than about 2 cm3 to thereby enable rapid evacuation and switching of gas to the first nozzle between the first gas and the second gas without mixing the first and second gases, and wherein the first and second valves are actuatable to permit selective supply of the first gas from the first gas source or the second gas from the second gas source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A processing system for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), the system comprising:
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a first nozzle for forming and emitting gas clusters beams through an outlet thereof, and a stagnation chamber upstream of and adjacent the first nozzle and having an inlet, the first nozzle being configured to direct a gas cluster beam toward the substrate; an ionizer positioned downstream of the outlet and configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB; a first gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber and including a first gas source and a first valve between the first gas source and the first nozzle for controlling flow of a first gas between the first gas source and the first nozzle; and a second gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber and including a second gas source and a second valve between the second gas source and the stagnation chamber for controlling flow of a second gas between the second gas source and the first nozzle, a second nozzle for forming and emitting gas clusters beams, the first and second nozzles being arranged in mutually close proximity to one another to at least partially coalesce the gas cluster beams emitted from the first and second nozzles into a single gas cluster beam and to direct the single gas cluster beam toward the substrate, the second nozzle being in fluid communication with the first and second gas supplies to selectively receive the first or second gas therefrom, wherein the first and second valves are positioned to define a common gas-holding volume between the first and second valves and the inlet of the stagnation chamber, the common gas-holding volume being less than about 2 cm3, and wherein the first and second valves are actuatable to permit selective supply of the first gas from the first gas source or the second gas from the second gas source. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A processing system for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), the system comprising:
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at least a first nozzle and a second nozzle for forming and emitting gas clusters beams through respective first and second outlets thereof, and first and second stagnation chambers upstream of and adjacent the first and second nozzles respectively and having respective first and second inlets, the first and second nozzles being arranged in mutually close proximity to one another to at least partially coalesce the gas cluster beams emitted from the first and second nozzles into a single gas cluster beam and to direct the single gas cluster beam toward the substrate; an ionizer positioned downstream of the first and second outlets and configured to ionize the single gas cluster beam to form the GCIB; a first gas supply in fluid communication with the first and second inlets of the first and second stagnation chambers, the first gas supply including a first gas source and a first pair of valves between the first gas source and each of the first and second nozzles for controlling flow of a first gas between the first gas source and the first and second nozzles, respectively; and a second gas supply in fluid communication with the first and second inlets of the first and second stagnation chambers, the second gas supply including a second gas source and a second pair of valves between the second gas source and each of the first and second nozzles for controlling flow of a second gas between the second gas source and the first and second nozzles, respectively, wherein; the first and second pairs of valves are positioned so as to define a first common gas-holding volume between one of the valves of the first pair, one of the valves of the second pair, and the first inlet of the first stagnation chamber, and a second common gas-holding volume between the other of the valves of the first pair, the other of the valves of the second pair, and the second inlet of the second stagnation chamber, at least one of the first or second common gas-holding volumes being less than about 2 cm3, and actuation of each of the first and second pairs of valves is effective to permit selective supply of the first or second gases, respectively, from the first or second gas source to the first or second nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of supplying gas in a processing system used to irradiate a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), the method comprising:
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supplying a first gas from a first gas source to a first nozzle through a first valve and through an inlet of a stagnation chamber upstream of and adjacent the first nozzle, the first valve being in fluid communication with a second valve fluidly coupled to a second gas source such that the first valve, the second valve, and the inlet of the stagnation chamber jointly define a common gas-holding volume there between less than about 2 cm3 to thereby enable rapid evacuation and switching of gas to the first nozzle between the first gas and the second gas without mixing the first and second gases, the first nozzle being configured to form and emit a gas cluster beam through an outlet thereof and to direct the gas cluster beam toward the substrate; directing the gas cluster beam through an ionizer positioned downstream of the outlet to ionize the gas cluster beam and thereby form the GCIB; closing the first valve to thereby interrupt flow of the first gas from the first gas source to the first nozzle; evacuating the first gas from the common gas-holding volume and from the stagnation chamber through an evacuation valve; and opening the second valve to supply a second gas from the second gas source to the first nozzle through the common gas-holding volume. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification