Patent ID: 6770874
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) mass or cluster size diagnostics for improving GCIB workpiece processing, comprising:a vacuum vessel; a gas cluster ion beam source within the vacuum vessel for producing a gas cluster ion beam; an accelerator for accelerating the gas cluster ion beam along a first trajectory; a beam deflector for controllably deflecting the gas cluster ion beam along a second trajectory, said second trajectory diverging from said first trajectory by a predetermined offset angle; beam detection means disposed along said first trajectory at a predetermined distance, D, from said beam deflector; workpiece holding means disposed along the second trajectory for holding a workpiece for gas cluster ion beam processing; control means for providing deflection signals to said beam deflector for controllably deflecting the gas cluster ion beam between said first trajectory and said second trajectory, wherein the deflection signals comprise a beam switching signal that switches a beam pulse along said first trajectory in order to measure the times-of-flight of components of the gas cluster ion beam over said distance, D; time-of-flight measurement means for measuring the times-of-flight of components of the gas cluster ion beam over said distance, D; and a time-of-flight analyzer to analyze said times of flight of components of the gas cluster ion beam in order to provide output information relative to GCIB mass or cluster size; wherein said output information is used in the gas cluster ion beam processing of the workpiece.