Patent ID: 7591957

Claim:
A method for shaping an optic, comprising: placing an optic workpiece in a plasma processing chamber including an inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) torch having an outer tube to communicate a plasma gas to a distal end of the plasma torch, a coil surrounding the distal end of the outer tube, and an inner tube nested within the outer tube to communicate a reactive precursor to the distal end; translating at least one of the optic workpiece and the plasma torch; and communicating the plasma gas to the distal end; generating a plasma discharge by applying current from a radio frequency (RF) power source to the coil to excite the plasma gas, wherein a plasma sheath is formed between the distal end and the plasma discharge; and introducing the reactive precursor to the plasma discharge through the inner tube to generate a reactive species; and shaping the surface of the optic workpiece using the reactive species within the plasma discharge; controlling a distribution of reactive species within the plasma discharge; and directing the plasma discharge to a target portion of the surface of the optic workpiece.