Patent ID: 8669705

Claim:
A surface wave plasma (SWP) source, comprising: an electromagnetic (EM) wave launcher configured to couple EM energy to a plasma by generating a surface wave on a plasma surface of said EM wave launcher adjacent said plasma, said EM wave launcher comprises a slot antenna having at least one slot formed therethrough configured to couple said EM energy from a first region above said slot antenna to a second region below said slot antenna; a resonator plate positioned in said second region and having a lower surface of said resonator plate including said plasma surface of the EM wave launcher, wherein said resonator plate comprises a plate having a plate diameter and a plate thickness; a first recess configuration formed in said plasma surface, said first recess configuration having at least one first recess characterized by a first shape and a first size; a second recess configuration formed in said plasma surface, said second recess configuration having at least one second recess characterized by a second shape and a second size; and a power coupling system coupled to said EM wave launcher and configured to provide said EM energy to said EM wave launcher for forming said plasma, wherein said EM energy comprises an effective wavelength (λ) of propagation in said resonator plate, and wherein said at least one first recess differs from said at least one second recess in size, or shape, or size and shape, and wherein said first size is characterized by a first width and a first depth, said first width and said first depth range in size from about a quarter said effective wavelength (λ/4) to about half said effective wavelength (λ/2), and wherein said second size is characterized by a second width and a second depth, said second width and said second depth range in size from about a quarter said effective wavelength (λ/4) to about half said effective wavelength (λ/2).