Rapid Thermal Processing: How Well is it Doing and Where is it Going?

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe use of Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) as a processing tool in semiconductor technology is still increasing and and becoming more diverse. The use of RTP in a reactive mode for film growth and deposition is an important new direction. The strong interest in III-V compound annealing studies represents one of the most important application areas. Although RTP is predominantly exploratory and developmental in nature it is slowly being introduced into the manufacture of Si devices. The technological necessity for the greater use of RTP in routine production will depend on either demonstrated productivity/cost advantages or on some intrinsic advantage of RTP. The intrinsic advantages of RTP are due to the single wafer processing nature of the operation or due to the possibility of selectively enhancing one desired process over another undesired reaction in a partically fabricated structure. Although significant impovements in commercially available reactors have been made in the last several years, better temperature measurement and control and particularly temperature uniformity of the wafer are still sorely needed.