Patent ID: 6106683
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
A device for generating a plasma to polish a surface of a substrate, said plasma including majority ions and minority ions and said device comprising:a vessel having a chamber for holding a plasma therein;a magnet for generating a magnetic field in said chamber said magnetic field being directed substantially parallel to said substrate;a support for holding said substrate in said chamber in a selected orientation relative to said magnetic field; andan ICRH antenna for radiating said plasma in said chamber with r-f power substantially near the resonant ion cyclotron frequency of said minority ions in said plasma, to selectively accelerate said minority ions of said plasma on a curved path toward said substrate surface for collision therewith at a grazing angle .theta., said grazing angle .theta. being in the range of from zero to approximately twenty degrees (0.degree.-20.degree.) relative to said substrate surface, to polish said substrate surface by removing atoms from said substrate surface.