Patent ID: 6664548
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An ion source for providing an ion beam in an ion implantation system, comprising:a housing defining an elongated plasma confinement chamber disposed along a longitudinal axis in which a plasma is generated by ionizing a source material, the housing comprising a generally cylindrical electrically conductive chamber wall extending longitudinally between first and second ends thereof, respectively, with an elongated longitudinally extending exit opening through which an ion beam may be extracted from the plasma; an antenna comprising first and second terminals, the second terminal being electrically connected to the chamber wall at the second end, and a portion of the antenna between the first and second terminals extending longitudinally within the plasma confinement chamber along the axis for coupling energy into the plasma chamber; and an RF source for energizing the antenna with a radio frequency signal in a frequency range of 1 to 100 MHz, the RF source comprising a first output electrically connected to the first terminal of the antenna and a second output electrically connected to the first end of the chamber wall, the RF source, the antenna, and the chamber wall forming a substantially coaxial electrical circuit to provide an alternating electric current in the exposed portion of the antenna for inducing an ionizing electric field within the plasma confinement chamber.