Patent ID: 7358484
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: H01J,H05H

Abstract:
1. A processing system configured to treat a substrate, comprising: a neutral beam source configured to produce a neutral beam by heating a process gas using plasma, wherein said neutral beam source comprises a plasma generation system configured to generate said plasma from said process gas in a plasma space within said neutral beam source, a process gas supply system configured to introduce said process gas to said neutral beam source, and a neutralizer grid coupled to an outlet of said neutral beam source and configured to neutralize a flow of plasma through said neutralizer grid in order to form said neutral beam; a processing chamber coupled to said neutral beam source and configured to receive said neutral beam in a processing space, wherein said processing chamber comprises a substrate holder configured to support said substrate and position said substrate for treatment by said neutral beam; a vacuum pumping system coupled to said processing chamber and configured to pump said processing space in said processing chamber, and coupled to said neutral beam source and configured to pump said plasma space in said neutral beam source; and said neutral beam source including a pumping manifold surrounding a periphery of said neutral beam source and disposed between said neutral beam source and said vacuum pumping system, said pumping manifold being configured to receive gases from said plasma space through one or more openings in said neutral beam source and exhaust said gases through an exhaust duct to said vacuum pumping system.