Apparatus and method for producing solar cells with a heater apparatus

A method of forming a solar cell, comprising:

• disposing a plurality of substrates about a plurality of surfaces of a substrate apparatus that is operatively coupled to sequentially feed a substrate within a vacuum chamber;
• forming an absorber layer over a surface of each one of the plurality of substrates;
• and
• heating the surface of each one of the plurality of substrates with a heater apparatus having one or more heater elements encased between a front cover covering the one or more heater elements from a front side and a back metal reflector mating with the front cover on a back side.

An apparatus for forming a solar cell, comprising:

• a housing defining a vacuum chamber of a deposition processing system;
• a heating apparatus within the vacuum chamber, the heating apparatus comprising:
• one or more heater elements;
• a front cover covering the one or more heater elements from a front side;
• and
• a back metal reflector mating with the front cover on a back side and enclosing the one or more heater elements.