Patent ID: 6853142
Filing Date: 2005-02-08
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for generating a strongly-ionized plasma in a chamber, the apparatus comprising: an ionization source that generates a weakly-ionized plasma from a feed gas, the weakly-ionized plasma reducing the probability of developing an electrical breakdown condition in the chamber; a power supply that supplies power to the weakly-ionized plasma though an electrical pulse applied across the weakly-ionized plasma, the electrical pulse having a magnitude and a rise-time that is sufficient to increase the density of the weakly-ionized plasma to generate a strongly-ionized plasma; and a gas line that supplies feed gas to the strongly-ionized plasma, the feed gas diffusing the strongly-ionized plasma, thereby allowing additional power from the pulsed power supply to be absorbed by the strongly-ionized plasma.