A substrate processing apparatus that processes a substrate using particles, includes a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the substrate along a conveyance surface, a particle source configured to emit particles, a rotation mechanism configured to make the particle source pivot about a rotation axis, and a movement mechanism configured to move the particle source such that a distance between the particle source and the conveyance surface is changed.

A substrate processing apparatus that processes a substrate using particles, includes a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the substrate along a conveyance surface, a particle source configured to emit particles, a rotation mechanism configured to make the particle source pivot about a rotation axis, and a movement mechanism configured to move the particle source such that a distance between the particle source and the conveyance surface is changed.

A method of processing a substrate includes loading the substrate on a substrate holder. The substrate includes a major surface and a feature disposed over the major surface. The feature has a first width along an etch direction. The method includes exposing portions of the major surface and changing the first width of the feature to a second width along the etch direction by etching a first portion of the sidewalls of the feature with a gas cluster ion beam oriented along a beam direction.

A method of processing a substrate includes loading the substrate on a substrate holder. The substrate includes a major surface and a feature disposed over the major surface. The feature has a first width along an etch direction. The method includes exposing portions of the major surface and changing the first width of the feature to a second width along the etch direction by etching a first portion of the sidewalls of the feature with a gas cluster ion beam oriented along a beam direction.

A sputtering target comprising a target insert comprising a target metal compound and a skirt structure including a primary skirt and a secondary skirt. The primary skirt is disposed adjacent least a portion of a secondary skirt and comprises a first metal compound. The secondary skirt comprises a second metal compound that is different from the first metal compound.

An ion beam deposition apparatus includes a substrate assembly to secure a substrate, a target assembly slanted with respect to the substrate assembly, the target assembly including a target with deposition materials, an ion gun to inject ion beams onto the target, such that ions of the deposition materials are discharged toward the substrate assembly to form a thin layer on the substrate, and a substrate heater to heat the substrate to a deposition temperature higher than a room temperature.

An ion beam deposition apparatus includes a substrate assembly to secure a substrate, a target assembly slanted with respect to the substrate assembly, the target assembly including a target with deposition materials, an ion gun to inject ion beams onto the target, such that ions of the deposition materials are discharged toward the substrate assembly to form a thin layer on the substrate, and a substrate heater to heat the substrate to a deposition temperature higher than a room temperature.

A scanning system includes a scanning chamber; a first rotary drive disposed in the scanning chamber and configured to rotate around a first axis; a second rotary drive disposed in the scanning chamber and configured to rotate around the first axis synchronously with the first rotary drive; and a bar-and-hinge system disposed in the scanning chamber and mechanically coupled to a substrate holder, the hinge system configured to translate a rotary motion of the first rotary drive and the second rotary drive to a planar motion of the substrate holder.

A scanning system includes a scanning chamber; a first rotary drive disposed in the scanning chamber and configured to rotate around a first axis; a second rotary drive disposed in the scanning chamber and configured to rotate around the first axis synchronously with the first rotary drive; and a bar-and-hinge system disposed in the scanning chamber and mechanically coupled to a substrate holder, the hinge system configured to translate a rotary motion of the first rotary drive and the second rotary drive to a planar motion of the substrate holder.

An article comprises a body having a protective coating. The protective coating is a thin film that comprises a metal oxy-fluoride. The metal oxy-fluoride has an empirical formula of M.sub.xO.sub.yF.sub.z, where M is a metal, y has a value of 0.1 to 1.9 times a value of x and z has a value of 0.1 to 3.9 times the value of x. The protective coating has a thickness of 1 to 30 microns and a porosity of less than 0.1%.