Patent ID: 7938081
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A surface wave plasma (SWP) source comprising: an electromagnetic (EM) wave launcher configured to couple EM energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating a surface wave on a plasma surface of said EM wave launcher adjacent said plasma, said EM wave launcher comprising a slot antenna and a resonator plate, the lower surface of said resonator plate including said plasma surface of the EM wave launcher; a power coupling system coupled to said EM wave launcher and configured to provide said EM energy to said EM wave launcher for forming said surface wave plasma, said power coupling system comprising a coaxial feed for coupling said EM energy to said EM wave launcher, said slot antenna of said EM wave launcher including one end coupled to an inner conductor of said coaxial feed and another end coupled to an outer conductor of said coaxial feed, and said slot antenna including one or more slots configured to couple said EM energy from a first region above said slot antenna between said inner conductor and said outer conductor to a second region below said slot antenna; and an electrically conductive layer including a first side in contact with the lower surface of the resonator plate such that the resonator plate is disposed between the slot antenna and the electrically conductive layer, wherein said electrically conductive layer comprises a plurality of openings to permit the passage of EM energy there through; and the electrically conductive layer is configured to reduce coupling between the slot antenna and said plasma.