Embodiments described herein generally relate to a susceptor support for supporting a susceptor in a deposition process. The susceptor support includes a shaft, a plate with a first major surface coupled to the shaft, and a support element extending from a second major surface of the plate. The plate may be made of a material that is optically transparent to the radiation energy from a plurality of energy sources disposed below the plate. The plate may have a thickness that is small enough to minimize radiation transmission loss and large enough to be thermally and mechanically stable to support the susceptor during processing. The thickness of the plate may range from about 2 mm to about 20 mm.