Patent ID: 9177824
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: G03F,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a patterned photoresist layer disposed atop a substrate, comprising: flowing a process gas used to form an etching plasma into a processing volume of a process chamber having the substrate disposed therein; forming a plasma within the process chamber from the process gas, wherein the plasma has a ion energy of about 1 eV to about 10 eV; etching the patterned photoresist layer with species from the plasma to at least one of smooth a line width roughness of a sidewall of the patterned photoresist layer or remove debris; and wherein forming the plasma further comprises igniting the process gas by discharging an electron beam from an electron beam generator in a direction substantially parallel to an upper surface of the substrate and a distance between a central axis of the electron beam and an upper surface of the substrate is about 2 mm to about 30 mm.