Patent ID: 7309842
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: G01J,G01N,H05H

Abstract:
1. A microplasma source comprising: a) a dielectric substrate; b) a gap layer that is positioned proximate to an inner surface of the dielectric substrate; c) a shield that is positioned on the gap layer, the shield comprising at least one slit positioned parallel to the inner surface of the dielectric substrate; d) an antenna structure that is positioned parallel to an outer surface of the dielectric substrate, the antenna structure generating a time varying electric field parallel to the inner surface of the dielectric substrate; e) a chamber being positioned adjacent to the shield, wherein a gas in the chamber being ionized to form a microplasma having a plasma sheath volume-to-total plasma volume ratio greater than 0.01 when an electromagnetic field is induced in the chamber by the incident time varying electric field; and f) a relief structure formed from the inner surfaces of the dielectric substrate, the gap layer, and the slit, the relief structure preventing depositing species incident from the chamber from forming continuous coatings with finite conductivity across a profile of the relief structure.