Patent ID: 6537606
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for gas cluster ion beam processing of a workpiece having an initially non-uniform thin film on a surface thereof, the apparatus comprising:a vacuum enclosure; a gas cluster ion beam source located within the vacuum enclosure for producing a gas cluster ion beam, the gas cluster ion beam having a beam path, a beam intensity and a controllable beam energy; means for disposing the workpiece in the path of the gas cluster ion beam for processing; means for controllably producing relative scanning motion between the workpiece and the gas cluster ion beam in order to sequentially process different regions on the surface of the workpiece with the gas cluster ion beam; means for storing a data map of non-uniformity of the workpiece; and means responsive to the stored data map of non-uniformity for modulating the amount of processing of the surface of the workpiece to modify the surface.