Patent ID: 7557511
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A pulsed electron ablation (PEA) apparatus producing an ablation plasma emanating from a target subjected to an electron beam, comprising: a processing chamber; a source of an electron beam, the source of the electron beam including: a first plasma having a first front layer extending in said processing chamber and supplying electrons for generation of the electron beam; and a second plasma having a second front layer extending in said processing chamber in a counter relationship with said first front layer of said first plasma, a double contact layer being defined between said first and second front layers of said first and second plasmas, respectively, the power of the electron beam being increased as the result of an interaction of said first and second plasmas at said double contact layer; and a target positioned in said processing chamber a predetermined distance from said first front layer of said first plasma and exposed to the electron beam, the ablation plasma emanating from said target when the electron beam impinges thereupon.