✧✦Catherine✦✧2d ago

semiconductor folks! I've seen a lot of talking heads repeat the claim that "a helium shortage is bad for chip production", never substantiated with useful information. do any of you know:

  • what is helium actually used in the processes?
  • which specific processes would be affected?
  • how much helium (ballpark) is needed per year?
  • where, if anywhere, a closed cycle is used?
  • what happened to the strategic helium reserve in the US?
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧2d ago
neither me nor anybody i've talked to so far (including some industry people) could point at any process steps they know involves helium, and i've no idea where this claim originated
Show threadHemera  2d ago

@whitequark That's a good question ye.

Maybe some of the vapor deposition processes?

Show threadRiley S. Faelan

@Hemera As far as I know, all currently used cold vapour deposition techniques of relevance to (mainstream) chip-making can be done at liquid nitrogen temperature or higher. Quantum computer research might have uses for colder ones. It's not impossible that NSA could be using helium-requiring chips in large numbers, and their supplier(s) would have trouble without helium, but I don't know of solid leaks positively affirming such, so far.

@whitequark

Apr 3 at 2:21pmWeb
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧2d ago
@riley @Hemera consider that helium is also sometimes used as carrier or purge gas (in quantities I'd very much like to know about)
Show threadRiley S. Faelan2d ago

@whitequark Oh. Yeah. That could be a use.

@Hemera

Show threadDr. Sobek2d ago

@whitequark @riley @Hemera Purge gas is the explanation I had seen, and I had heard also that EUV machines needed it (though apparently, people in this thread are suggesting hydrogen is used ?)

I think it would make sense to have a non-reactive gas atmosphere, though.

Show threadGwen the Loitering Fox 2d ago
@whitequark @riley @Hemera I think some lasers also use helium, either to get the right frequency or temperature. Might be required to etch the gates at the required size?
Show threadXenotime, Librarian of Æther 2d ago
@whitequark @riley @Hemera @gwenthefops there are lasers like HeNe with He-bearing media but I doubt those need a large supply of helium

(idk much about industrial laser systems though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they use He for other purposes within the laser)
Show threadXenotime, Librarian of Æther 2d ago
@whitequark @riley @Hemera @gwenthefops there are lasers like HeNe with He-bearing media but I doubt those need a large supply of helium

(idk much about industrial laser systems though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they use He for other purposes within the laser)