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Title: Apparatus and method for atmospheric pressure reactive atom plasma processing for shaping of damage free surfaces

Abstract

Fabrication apparatus and methods are disclosed for shaping and finishing difficult materials with no subsurface damage. The apparatus and methods use an atmospheric pressure mixed gas plasma discharge as a sub-aperture polisher of, for example, fused silica and single crystal silicon, silicon carbide and other materials. In one example, workpiece material is removed at the atomic level through reaction with fluorine atoms. In this example, these reactive species are produced by a noble gas plasma from trace constituent fluorocarbons or other fluorine containing gases added to the host argon matrix. The products of the reaction are gas phase compounds that flow from the surface of the workpiece, exposing fresh material to the etchant without condensation and redeposition on the newly created surface. The discharge provides a stable and predictable distribution of reactive species permitting the generation of a predetermined surface by translating the plasma across the workpiece along a calculated path.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Livermore, CA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
986329
Patent Number(s):
7,510,664
Application Number:
10/002,035
Assignee:
RAPT Industries, Inc. (Fremont, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Carr, Jeffrey W. Apparatus and method for atmospheric pressure reactive atom plasma processing for shaping of damage free surfaces. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Carr, Jeffrey W. Apparatus and method for atmospheric pressure reactive atom plasma processing for shaping of damage free surfaces. United States.
Carr, Jeffrey W. 2009. "Apparatus and method for atmospheric pressure reactive atom plasma processing for shaping of damage free surfaces". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/986329.
@article{osti_986329,
title = {Apparatus and method for atmospheric pressure reactive atom plasma processing for shaping of damage free surfaces},
author = {Carr, Jeffrey W.},
abstractNote = {Fabrication apparatus and methods are disclosed for shaping and finishing difficult materials with no subsurface damage. The apparatus and methods use an atmospheric pressure mixed gas plasma discharge as a sub-aperture polisher of, for example, fused silica and single crystal silicon, silicon carbide and other materials. In one example, workpiece material is removed at the atomic level through reaction with fluorine atoms. In this example, these reactive species are produced by a noble gas plasma from trace constituent fluorocarbons or other fluorine containing gases added to the host argon matrix. The products of the reaction are gas phase compounds that flow from the surface of the workpiece, exposing fresh material to the etchant without condensation and redeposition on the newly created surface. The discharge provides a stable and predictable distribution of reactive species permitting the generation of a predetermined surface by translating the plasma across the workpiece along a calculated path.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/986329}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Rapid, noncontact optical figuring of aspheric surfaces with plasma-assisted chemical etching
conference, November 1990


Production of chemically active species in the air by a single positive streamer in a nonuniform field
journal, June 1997


Rapid, noncontact, damage free shaping of optical and other surfaces with plasma assisted chemical etching
conference, January 1989


Computer numerically controlled plasma chemical vaporization machining with a pipe electrode for optical fabrication
journal, January 1998