Patent ID: 7772544

Claim:
A processing system configured to treat a substrate, comprising: a neutral beam source comprising: a beam chamber comprising a first plasma region configured to receive a first process gas at a first pressure and a second plasma region disposed downstream of said first plasma region and configured to receive said first process gas from said first plasma region at a second pressure, a first gas injection system coupled to said beam chamber and configured to introduce said first process gas to said first plasma region, a plasma generation system coupled to said beam chamber and configured to generate a first plasma in said first plasma region from said first process gas, a separation member disposed between said first plasma region and said second plasma region, wherein said separation member comprises one or more openings configured to allow transport of electrons from said first plasma region to said second plasma region, a plasma heating system, independently operable from said plasma generation system, coupled to said beam chamber and configured to heat said electrons in said second plasma region to form a second plasma, and a neutralizer grid coupled to an outlet of said neutral beam source and configured to neutralize a flow of ions from said second plasma through said neutralizer grid in order to form said neutral beam; a process chamber coupled to said neutral beam source and configured to receive said neutral beam in a processing space, wherein said process chamber comprises a substrate holder configured to support said substrate and position said substrate for treatment by said neutral beam; and a vacuum pumping system coupled to said process chamber and configured to pump said processing space in said process chamber, and coupled to said neutral beam source and configured to pump said first plasma region or said second plasma region or both in a neutral beam source.