Techniques for providing a ribbon-shaped gas cluster ion beam are
disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be
realized as an apparatus for providing a ribbon-shaped gas cluster ion
beam. The apparatus may comprise at least one nozzle configured to inject
a source gas at a sufficient speed into a low-pressure vacuum space to
form gas clusters. The apparatus may also comprise at least one ionizer
that causes at least a portion of the gas clusters to be ionized. The
apparatus may further comprise a beam-shaping mechanism that forms a
ribbon-shaped gas cluster ion beam based on the ionized gas clusters.