The kSA Pulse Control kit is a pulse generator and pulse counter system. The kit is designed as a simple, inexpensive, programmable pulsed waveform source for triggering events and instrumentation. A common use of the Pulse Control kit is in Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), whereby the laser pulse rate and number of pulses is controlled through the Pulse Control kit. Any application that needs a triggered or timed input can make use of kSA Pulse Control. kSA Pulse Control makes use of a PCI-based 9513 counter/timer module and easy-to-use Windows 10 software to allow the user to generate square waves of any frequency in the range of 0.00077 Hz to 500.00 kHz. Pulse trains of a user-specified number of pulses may also be generated, real-time counted and displayed. Pulse trains can also be paused and resumed per the user’s discretion. The pulses are TTL-level and are true square wave. The kSA Pulse Control software is easy to use, with a single dialog box for entering all the parameters needed for pulse generation. Kit Includes: - PCI counter/timer board based on 9513 counter/timer chip. - Windows 10 compatible control software. - 20’ Data interface cable. Input Parameters: Frequency This parameter controls the frequency of the square wave pulse. Allowable range is from 0.00077 Hz to 500 kHz. Pulse Count Displays the number of pulses in real-time that have been generated since the start button was clicked. Maximum count of 32,767 pulses. Pulse Form Allows user to choose continuous mode or pulse train mode. Continuous mode produces a continuous square wave of the desired frequency from the time the start button is clicked until the stop button is clicked. Pulse train mode produces a pulse train with desired number of pulses. The pulses can be paused and resumed where it left off by clicking the pause/resume button. Number of Pulses This parameter controls the number of pulses in a pulse train, up to 32,767. Board # The PCI-based board number for the counter/timer board. Base Counter # Allows you to select which counter on the board to use as a source. There are 5 counters on the CIO-CTR05 board. kSA Pulse Control allows you to easily and inexpensively generate true square wave pulses, both continuous and pulse trains, of any frequency. Please call us for details or to receive a quotation.
Save time and gain insight into your thin film growth with industry leading RHEED analysis The kSA 400 analytical Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) system puts the power of RHEED at your fingertips. Whether analyzing a static diffraction pattern or acquiring data at multiple azimuths during substrate rotation, the kSA 400 makes quantitative RHEED analysis easy. Exploit the power of RHEED with the kSA 400! The kSA 400 combines a high-resolution, high-speed, and high-sensitivity camera with sophisticated RHEED-specific acquisition and analysis software. This flexible system enables the analysis of virtually any image feature and, with one of many additional options, controls the electron gun for such tasks as acquiring RHEED rocking curves. Easy to use and straightforward to install, the kSA 400 is designed for convenience and gives quantitative results right out of the box. Seamless integration between hardware and software as well as visually-driven RHEED pattern analysis, makes user operation straightforward and simple. Extensive customer input has helped us make the kSA 400 the industry’s most powerful analytical RHEED system and an integral part of MBE, PLD, PVD, and surface science chambers worldwide. Growth Rate The most common use of RHEED is for determining growth rate via RHEED intensity oscillations, a phenomena that occurs during layer-by-layer epitaxial growth. The kSA 400 determines growth rate via three complimentary methods: Fourier-transform, extrema count (derivative analysis), and damped sine wave fitting. These three techniques determine growth rate independently, resulting in very accurate and consistent measurement of your thin-film growth rate. Watch the kSA 400 monitor RHEED oscillations. Lattice Spacing/Strain Another powerful use for RHEED is to determine the absolute atomic spacing, or lattice spacing, between atoms on a surface. The kSA 400 makes measuring absolute lattice spacing simple. Furthermore, if you’d like to measure the evolution of lattice spacing, or the strain of lattice mismatched growth, the kSA 400 makes this easy too. By monitoring the spacing between diffraction streaks using sophisticated, proven analysis algorithms, strain evolution with very high accuracy and resolution is at your fingertips with the kSA 400. Structural Analysis The kSA 400 makes analyzing surface structure easy. By acquiring RHEED images along the major crystal directions of the surface, measuring the pixel spacing and calculating a ratio, surface crystal structure can easily be determined. The kSA 400 also makes acquiring and archiving RHEED patterns a snap. The kSA 400 software contains a comprehensive RHEED Image Library (RIL) for reference and further analysis. The kSA 400 is the most advanced, full featured RHEED data acquisition and analysis package available. With a long list of capabilities, and available plug-in options, the kSA 400 offers the most insight from RHEED patterns. The kSA 400 RHEED analysis software has camera control options; data acquisition modes; acquisition, image analysis, data analysis, and export capabilities
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Atomic Flux Control: Accurate and High-Resolution Flux and Growth Rate Monitoring kSA ACE provides atomic flux control with accurate and high-resolution source flux and growth rate monitoring for thin-film deposition. The kSA Atomic Control for Epitaxy (ACE) metrology tool is a highly sensitive instrument that measures the in situ flux rate of atomic species using the principle of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The kSA ACE system uses conventional hollow cathode lamps (HCLs) to generate the atomic emission for the elements of interest. It also utilizes a high-sensitivity, UV-optimized solid-state spectrometer to monitor the absorption, along with a second spectrometer to monitor signal drift from the HCLs. Because the technique is inherently material specific, the signal does not respond to other species or radiation in the chamber. kSA ACE can measure each material of interest independently with high accuracy, providing precise material-specific flux control in multi-source deposition processes. With its high sensitivity and long-term repeatability under continuous operation, kSA ACE has applications in the fabrication of III-V and II-VI compounds, semiconductor devices, thin-film sensors, solar cells, optical coatings, x-ray optics, flat-panel displays, and more. A schematic of the atomic absorption spectroscopy technique for monitoring source flux. The kSA ACE instrument combines the atomic emission lines of up to three hollow cathode lamps (HCLs) into a colinear beam. The beam is split into a reference channel and a signal channel. The system continuously monitors both the reference and the signal channels with high-sensitivity, high-spatial-resolution spectrometers that monitor up to three elements simultaneously. The reference channel provides continuous correction for HCL intensity fluctuation. The signal beam is fiber coupled to lens cells on the process chamber and then passed through the flux of the deposition sources, resulting in attenuation of the atomic lines, specific to the resonant absorption of the atom species. The attenuation is proportional to the atomic density within the volume of the signal channel beam. The system also includes a Xe flash lamp, colinear with the HCL beam path, to correct for viewport coating. The entire optical subsystem, including HCLs, beam collimation optics, and spectrometers, is temperature stabilized, to ensure long-term stability and accuracy. kSA ACE electronics rack, optics rack, collection optics head, and emission optics head. Above Left: Light source optics head attached to chamber. Above Right: Detector optics head attached to chamber. Another useful feature of the system is the integrated camera that captures live video of the AA light spot as it looks once it has traversed the deposition path. This real-time imaging of the light spot allows for easy alignment of the tool, tracking of any spot drift, and characterization of the spot profile. Optionally, servo motors can be installed on the detector for real-time centering of the AA spot, minimizing any optical drift of the system. k-Space designed the kSA ACE using feedback from industry-leading scientists. The system is engineered to operate up to three sources at the same time with exceptional stability. k-Space can design systems to meet your specific needs, with options such as automated alignment drift compensation and motorized auto-alignment correcting light source optics heads. With kSA ACE, you can measure and control: - Real-time flux transmission/absorption - Real-time growth rate - Real-time composition control
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Wafer and Thin-Film Temperature Monitor – Go Where Pyrometers Can’t! Real-time absolute temperature measurement of standard semiconductor substrates like GaAs, InP, and Si, as well as wide bandgap substrates transparent in the IR (including GaN, SiC, ZnO, AlN, Ga2O3 and SrTiO3). Go where pyrometers can’t! The kSA BandiT is a non-contact, non-invasive, real-time, absolute wafer and thin-film temperature monitoring tool used during thin-film deposition and thermal processing. Using the temperature-dependent optical absorption edge inherent in semiconductor materials, kSA BandiT provides semiconductor temperature monitoring in ranges that pyrometers cannot measure: substrates transparent in the infrared (including GaN, SiC, ZnO, AlN, Ga2O3 and SrTiO3), as well as low temperature monitoring, e.g. low temperature GaAs, InP, and Si deposition. This includes room temperature wafer measurements. Furthermore, kSA BandiT is immune to changing viewport transmission, stray light, and signal contribution from substrate or source heaters, all sources of measurement error for pyrometers. Combined with its patented blackbody emission monitor, kSA BandiT has the ability to monitor the full range of temperatures for most substrate materials, including low band-gap substrates and metal films. Finally, because kSA BandiT uses a solid-state spectrometer, real-time film thickness and surface roughness can also be measured. Band Edge Temperature/Thermometry (BET) The most common application of the kSA BandiT tool is for direct substrate temperature measurement. By measuring the position of the substrate absorption edge, the absolute temperature of the wafer can be determined. This absorption edge, which is directly proportional to the band gap of the material, is temperature dependent. It is this temperature dependence that we rely on to determine the wafer temperature. A solid-state spectrometer is used to acquire either diffusely reflected, or transmitted light from the wafer. This spectra is then analyzed in real-time by the kSA BandiT software, fitting to the absorption edge, and determining the absolute wafer temperature from the position of the absorption edge. Blackbody Temperature Measurement In addition to kSA’s patented band edge temperature measurement, BandiT offers a complimentary measurement technique, blackbody temperature measurement. This approach, also patented by k-Space, fits the radiation emitted from the wafer to Planck’s equation. In this approach, the emissivity of the wafer can be changing, without affecting the temperature measurement. This is because it is the functional shape of the blackbody spectra, not its amplitude, that dictates the temperature of the emitting material. This is unlike pyrometry, which relies solely on the absolute signal level in a given (small) wavelength range. The kSA BandiT blackbody temperature measurement is typically used when the band edge of the material cannot be measured. This occurs typically when looking at a non-semiconductor substrate, a heavily doped substrate, or a very narrow band gap substrate (e.g. Ge or InAs). The blackbody temperature measurement technique typically has a lower limit in temperature of ~ 250 °C, due to limited emitted radiation at low temperatures. Film Thickness and Roughness Measurement Because a solid-state spectrometer is used with the kSA BandiT system, the full diffuse spectra is obtained. This spectra contains a wealth of information in addition to the material absorption edge. By analyzing the below gap interference fringes, the total film thickness can be very accurately determined. By analyzing the above gap scatter signal, changes in roughness can be easily monitored. Combined with real-time temperature measurement, kSA BandiT offers a very powerful in situ monitoring tool for your thin-film deposition and processing needs.
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In-line PV Process Monitoring to Increase Performance and Yield Improve your process control with this patented technology. Measure and control uniformity, thickness, band gap, temperature, surface roughness and more. k-Space manufactures state-of-the-art in situ, real-time thin-film deposition monitoring tools, and has over 25 years of experience in the thin-film metrology field. The application of these proven kSA technologies to in-line PV manufacturing was a natural extension of our product line, as the most promising PV materials are based on thin-film semiconductor materials. Thin-film thickness, uniformity, band gap, and other physical properties are all critical parameters which influence PV device performance and can now be measured during the process. kSA BandiT PV technology is based on real-time spectroscopy of diffusely reflected light from a semiconductor as measured in-line during PV panel manufacturing. A broadband light source supplies the light which is focused onto the sample. The diffusely reflected light is then collected at a non-specular angle using a lens system. The light is coupled to a high-speed, solid-state spectrometer which is then analyzed in real-time for isolating optical metrics of interest. kSA BandiT PV is applicable to materials which are deposited onto glass, metal back-coated, flexible, or directly onto semiconductor substrates. All components used are solid state, with no moving parts, to ensure highest performance and reliability. Key parameters which are measured by BandiT PV to increase performance and yield are: Optical Band Gap Knowledge of the wavelength of the absorption edge (Optical Band Gap) is critical to understanding the performance of photovoltaic materials. This parameter is found by analyzing the absorbed and transmitted light signature of the material to observe the material’s transition from absorbing to transparent. kSA BandiT PV and has demonstrated the capability to measure this the optical band gap for the major PV materials being manufactured today, including cadmium sulfide (CdS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Optical Absorption Profile In addition to providing important optical band gap information in real-time, kSA BandiT PV can also analyze and compare the actual optical absorption shape/slope profile of the material. With this method, the absorption spectra vs. wavelength can be monitored and tuned for abruptness of the interface at the optical band gap. In this fashion, the materials properties can be modified to provide the desired optical characteristics through process tuning or heat treating. Sample Temperature The measured optical band gap of a semiconductor has a nearly linear dependence on temperature. This temperature dependence forms the basis of band-edge thermometry (BET), which has been utilized in the kSA BandiT semiconductor temperature measurement systems. kSA band-edge based technology relies upon the direct semiconductor optical absorption shift with temperature (band gap dependence on temperature). By fitting the optical absorption edge of the semiconductor in real time and using substrate-specific, kSA-generated calibration files, measurement accuracy and repeatability are guaranteed and unmatched by any other optical temperature monitoring technique. Blackbody Emission Monitoring kSA BandiT also combines a new, patented Blackbody emission monitoring technology whereby the spectral radiation intensity of a sample is fit in real time to Planck’s equation to determine temperature. This technique is used for direct temperature measurement of the metal foil or film befor
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