Patent ID: 6646277
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus utilizing a gas cluster ion beam for processing a surface of a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:a vacuum vessel; a gas cluster ion beam source within the vacuum vessel for producing a gas cluster ion beam having a beam current; an accelerator for accelerating the gas cluster ion beam along a trajectory; workpiece holding means for holding the workpiece for gas cluster ion beam processing; controllable moving means for selectively scanning said workpiece holding means and the workpiece through said gas cluster ion beam at a location along said trajectory, between said accelerator and said current measurement means, and for selectively removing the workpiece holding means and the workpiece from said gas cluster ion beam trajectory; control means for providing signals to said controllable moving means for scanning the workpiece and for removing the workpiece and workpiece holder from said gas cluster ion beam trajectory to allow measurement of said beam current; and current measurement means disposed along said trajectory for measuring current, said current measuring means having at least two controllable modes, one of said modes selectively measuring a sample of the gas cluster ion beam current and another of said modes selectively measuring a sample of the total current available for charging the workpiece, said control means providing control signals for selecting between the two modes.