The present invention discloses an apparatus including: a laser beam directed at a wafer held by a chuck mounted on a stage inside a process chamber; a focusing mechanism for the laser beam; a steering mechanism for the laser beam; an optical scanning mechanism for the laser beam; a mechanical scanning system for the stage; an etch chemical induced by the laser beam to etch the wafer and form volatile byproducts; a gas feed line to dispense the etch chemical towards the wafer; and a gas exhaust line to remove any excess of the etch chemical and the volatile byproducts.