Enhanced plasma mode and system for plasma immersion ion implantation

Abstract

A novel plasma treatment method ( 800, 814 ). The method includes forming an rf plasma discharge in a vacuum chamber. The plasma discharge includes an inductive coupling structure, which has a first cusp region at a first end of the structure and a second cusp region at a second end of the structure. In some embodiments, a third cusp region, which is between the first and second cusp regions, can also be included. The first cusp region is provided by a first electro-magnetic source and the second cusp region is provided by a second-electro magnetic source. The first electro-magnetic source and the second electro-magnetic source confines a substantial portion of the rf plasma discharge to a region away from a wall of the vacuum chamber. Accordingly, a plasma discharge is substantially a single ionic species (e.g., H 1 +) can be formed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A plasma treatment method comprising: 
 forming an rf plasma discharge in a vacuum chamber, said plasma discharge including an inductive coupling structure, said inductive coupling structure comprising a first cusp region at a first end of said structure and a second cusp region at a second end of said structure;    wherein said first cusp region is provided by a first electro-magnetic source and said second cusp region is provided by a second-electro magnetic source; and    wherein said first electro-magnetic source and said second electro-magnetic source confining a substantial portion of said rf plasma discharge to a region away from a wall of said vacuum chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said rf plasma discharge is provided by a single coil disposed overlying an upper surface of said vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said rf plasma discharge is provided by a plurality of coils, each of said coils being disposed overlying an upper surface of said vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising a tuning circuit coupled to said single coil.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first cusp is toward said a rf plasma source.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said second cusp region is toward said susceptor.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying a voltage bias between said rf plasma discharge and a workpiece to introduce partices in said rf plasma discharge into a surface of said workpiece.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a direct current from a direct current power supply to said first electro-magnetic source.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing a direct current from a direct current power supply to said second electro-magnetic source.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said first electro-magnetic source is coupled to said direct current power supply supply current that flows in a first direction.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said second electro-magnetic source is coupled to said direct current power supply to supply current that flows in a second direction, said second direction being opposite of said first direction.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising feeding hydrogen gas into said vacuum chamber to form said rf plasma discharge comprising hydrogen bearing particles.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said rf plasma discharge is a hydrogen bearing plasma.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said rf plasma discharge is substantially a hydrogen bearing plasma of H 1 + particles.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a workpiece on a susceptor in said vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising accelerating particles from said rf plasma discharge into and through a surface of a work piece to a selected depth underlying said surface of said work piece.