Discharge characteristic of very high frequency capacitively coupled argon plasma

The discharge characteristics of capacitively coupled argon plasmas driven by very high frequency discharge are studied. The mean electron temperature and electron density are calculated by using the Ar spectral lines at different values of power(20 W–70 W) and four different frequencies(13.56 MHz, 40.68 MHz, 94.92 MHz, and 100 MHz). The mean electron temperature decreases with the increase of power at a fixed frequency. The mean electron temperature varies nonlinearly with frequency increasing at constant power. At 40.68 MHz, the mean electron temperature is the largest. The electron density increases with the increase of power at a fixed frequency. In the cases of driving frequencies of 94.92 MHz and 100 MHz, the obtained electron temperatures are almost the same, so are the electron densities. Particle-in-cell/MonteCarlo collision(PIC/MCC) method developed within the Vsim 8.0 simulation package is used to simulate the electron density, the potential distribution, and the electron energy probability function(EEPF) under the experimental condition.The sheath width increases with the power increasing. The EEPF of 13.56 MHz and 40.68 MHz are both bi-Maxwellian with a large population of low-energy electrons. The EEPF of 94.92 MHz and 100 MHz are almost the same and both are nearly Maxwellian.     

常压氩/氮射频容性放电冷等离子体的发射光谱诊断

实验中在大气压下在射频(13.56 MHz)容性耦合的平板形金属电极的构型中实现了氩/氮射频α模式的辉光放电.首先,采用发射光谱的方法测量了氮分子(C 3Ⅱu)谱线随氮气含量的变化;其次,使用玻耳兹曼斜率法估算了OH谱带(A2∑+→X 2Ⅱ)的转动温度,并得到等离子体温度随输入功率的变化规律.最后,选取氮的第二正带(C...     

Breakdown mechanism of an atmospheric-pressure radio-frequency capacitive argon discharge in parallel-plate bare metal electrodes

The breakdown behavior of an atmospheric-pressure radio-frequency capacitively coupled argon plasma discharge at 13.56 MHz is investigated in order to produce a stable and homogeneous atmospheric-pressure argon glow discharge. It is found that the electrode separation distance plays a pivotal role in exciting argon discharge whether in mobility-controlled electric breakdown or in diffusion-controlled breakdown and the discharge mode (arc discharge, α-mode glow discharge, or γ-mode glow discharge) immediately following breakdown is closely related to the breakdown mechanism.     

Different modes of capacitively coupled radio-frequency discharge in methane

Two different modes of capacitively coupled radio-frequency (RF) discharge in methane at gas pressures between 0.01 and 1.00 Torr are examined by numerical simulation based on a combined approach. It is shown that transition between volume-dominated and active-sheath modes is caused by variation of discharge current or gas pressure. Hysteretic behavior is revealed as the discharge current density is varied along the growing-and falling-current branches of the current-density curve. A phase diagram representing the domains of different discharge modes is obtained in wide current and pressure ranges.     

Different modes of a capacitively coupled radio-frequency discharge in methane

The transition between different regimes of a capacitevely coupled radio-frequency gas discharge in methane is studied with a combined particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision algorithm over a wide range of gas pressure P and discharge current j. The results of this study are compared with known experimental and numerical results and summarized on a P-j phase diagram, which constitutes the areas of existence of different discharge regimes.     

Collisionless bounce resonance heating in dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasmas

We present the experimental evidence of the collisionless electron bounce resonance heating (BRH) in low-pressure dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasmas. In capacitively coupled plasmas at low pressures when the discharge frequency and gap satisfy a certain resonant condition, the high energy beamlike electrons can be generated by fast sheath expansion, and heated by the two sheaths coherently, thus the BRH occurs. By using a combined measurement of a floating double probe and optical emission spectroscopy, we demonstrate the effect of BRH on plasma properties, such as plasma density and light emission, especially in dual-frequency discharges.     

Plasma characteristics and broadband electromagnetic wave absorption in argon and helium capacitively coupled plasma

A one-dimensional self-consistent calculation model of capacitively coupled plasma(CCP) discharge and electromagnetic wave propagation is developed to solve the plasma characteristics and electromagnetic wave transmission attenuation.Numerical simulation results show that the peak electron number density of argon is about 12 times higher than that of helium, and that the electron number density increases with the augment of pressure, radio frequency(RF) power, and RF frequency. However, the electron number density first increases and then decreases as the discharge gap increases. The transmission attenuation of electromagnetic wave in argon discharge plasma is 8.5-d B higher than that of helium. At the same time, the transmission attenuation increases with the augment of the RF power and RF frequency, but it does not increase or decrease monotonically with the increase of gas pressure and discharge gap. The electromagnetic wave absorption frequency band of the argon discharge plasma under the optimal parameters in this paper can reach the Ku band. It is concluded that the argon CCP discharge under the optimal discharge parameters has great potential applications in plasma stealth.     

Evolution of vacuum ultraviolet emission in dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasmas

In plasma material processing, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emission is released from gas discharges, leading to undesirable results. Energetic VUV photons enable the creation of an electron-hole pair current when their energy is larger than the bandgap energy of the plasma-facing top layer during plasma material processing. For example, the high energy of VUV photons from helium (21.2 eV), argon (11.6 eV), and oxygen (13.6 eV) is sufficient to generate induced currents in SiO₂ thin films. These feedstock gases are widely used in many procedures utilizing low-temperature industrial plasmas. Thus, the VUV emission evolution with both the power ratio between high (60 MHz) and low (2 MHz) frequencies and pulse duty ratio of the low-frequency radio frequency (rf) power in a dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasma, which is indispensable in modern plasma etching processes, was investigated. Both the power ratio between high and low frequencies and the pulse duty ratio changed the electron temperature, leading to evolution of the VUV emission intensity.     

Simulation of nanoparticle coagulation in radio-frequency capacitively coupled C_2H_2 discharges

A self-consistent fluid model is employed to investigate the coagulation stage of nanoparticle formation, growth,charging, and transport in a radio-frequency capacitively coupled parallel-plate acetylene(C2H2) discharge. In our simulation, the distribution of neutral species across the electrode gap is determined by mass continuity, momentum balance, and energy balance equations. Since a thermal gradient in the gas temperature induced by the flow of the neutral gas, a careful study of the thermophoretic force on the spatial distribution of the nanoparticle density profiles is indispensable. In the present paper, we mainly focus on the influences of the gas flow rate, voltage, and gas pressure on the spatial distribution of the nanoparticle density. It appears that the resulting density profile of the 10-nm particles experiences a significant shift towards the upper showerhead electrode once the neutral equations are applied, and a serious shift is observed when increasing the gas flow rate. Thus, the flow of neutral gas can strongly influence the spatial distribution of the particles in the plasma.     

Electronic dynamic behavior in inductively coupled plasmas with radio-frequency bias

The inflexion point of electron density and effective electron temperature curves versus radio-frequency （RF） bias voltage is observed in the H mode of inductively coupled plasmas （ICPs）. The electron energy probability function （EEPF） evolves first from a Maxwellian to a Druyvesteyn-like distribution, and then to a Maxwellian distribution again as the RF bias voltage increases. This can be explained by the interaction of two distinct bias-induced mechanisms, that is： bias- induced electron heating and bias-induced ion acceleration loss and the decrease of the effective discharge volume due to the sheath expansion. Furthermore, the trend of electron density is verified by a fluid model combined with a sheath module.     

Non-linear lumped model circuit of capacitively coupled plasmas at the intermediate radio-frequencies

The discharge dynamics in geometrically asymmetric capacitively coupled plasmas are investigated via a lumped model circuit. A realistic reactor configuration is assumed. A single and two separate RF voltage sources are considered. One of the driven frequencies (the higher frequency) has been adjusted to excite a plasma series resonance, while the second frequency (the lower frequency) is in the range of the ion plasma frequency. Increasing the plasma pressure in the low pressure regime ($\le 100\text{mTorr}$) is found to diminish the amplitude of the self-excited harmonics of the discharge current, however, the net result is enhancing the plasma heating. The modulation of the ion density with the lower driving frequency affect the plasma heating considerably. The net effect depends on the amplitude and the phase of the ion modulation.     

Spectral characteristics of a 44-kHz arc discharge excited in an atmospheric-pressure argon flow

Results are presented from experimental studies of an ac (44-kHz) arc discharge excited in an atmospheric-pressure argon jet between two copper electrodes. The first (central) electrode is a water-cooled rod with an axial opening for argon injection, while the second electrode is a loop of a tube lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the central electrode. The argon radiation spectra are measured, and the characteristic intensity profiles of the spectral lines as functions of the distance from the end of the central electrode are determined. All the observed transitions in the 245-to 370-nm wavelength range are identified.     

Driving frequency effects on the mode transition in capacitively coupled argon discharges

A one-dimensional fluid model is employed to investigate the discharge sustaining mechanisms in the capacitively coupled argon plasmas, by modulating the driving frequency in the range of 40 kHz-60 MHz. The model incorporates the density and flux balance of electron and ion, electron energy balance, as well as Poisson's equation. In our simulation, the discharge experiences mode transition as the driving frequency increases, from the γ regime in which the discharge is maintained by the secondary electrons emitted from the electrodes under ion bombardment, to the α regime in which sheath oscillation is responsible for most of the electron heating in the discharge sustaining. The electron density and electron temperature at the centre of the discharge, as well as the ion flux on the electrode are figured out as a function of the driving frequency, to confirm the two regimes and transition between them. The effects of gas pressure, secondary electron emission coefficient and applied voltage on the discharge are also discussed.     

气压对微束射频容性放电模式调制的研究

微束射频容性放电在纳米晶体颗粒等离子体增强气相合成有着潜在的应用前景.本论文利用ICCD、单反相机、高压探头和电流探头等对微束射频容性放电特性进行了实验诊断研究.结果发现:在纯氩气微束射频放电中,随着气压的增加,放电从辉光放电模式向多通道丝状放电模式转换;在99％氩/1％氢混合气体微束射频放电中,丝状放电模式消失,而是...     

Modeling of the nanoparticle coagulation in pulsed radio-frequency capacitively coupled C_2H_2 discharges

The role of pulse parameters on nanoparticle property is investigated self-consistently based on a couple of fluid model and aerosol dynamics model in a capacitively coupled parallel-plate acetylene(C2H2) discharge. In this model, the mass continuity equation, momentum balance equation, and energy balance equation for neutral gas are taken into account.Thus, the thermophoretic force arises when a gas temperature gradient exists. The typical results of this model are positive and negative ion densities, electron impact collisions rates, nanoparticle density, and charge distributions. The simulation is performed for duty ratio 0.4/0.7/1.0, as well as pulse modulation frequency from 40 k Hz to 2.7 MHz for pure C2H2 discharges at a pressure of 500 m Torr. We find that the pulse parameters, especially the duty ratio, have a great affect on the dissociative attachment coefficient and the negative density. More importantly, by decreasing the duty ratio, nanoparticles start to diffuse to the wall. Under the action of gas flow, nanoparticle density peak is created in front of the pulse electrode,where the gas temperature is smaller.     

Mode transition in magnetic pole enhanced inductively coupled argon plasmas

The electrical probe (Langmuir probe) diagnostics of different plasma parameters and operation regimes (E/H modes) of magnetic pole enhanced, inductively coupled (MaPE-ICP) argon plasmas are investigated. It is shown that uniform, high density (n _e ∼ 10¹² cm^-3) and low electron temperature (T _e ∼ 1.5 eV) plasma can be produced in low pressure argon discharges at a low power (100 W). It is found that an MaPE-ICP reactor operates in two different modes; capacitive (E mode) and inductive (H mode). No density jump or hysteresis are reported between these modes. The effect of pressure on transition power, where the mode changes from E to H mode at 20 sccm gas flow rate are studied and it is found that for all pressures tested (∼7.5 mTorr to 75 mTorr) the transition power remains same. In the inductive mode, the above plasma parameters show a smooth variation with increasing filling gas pressure at fixed power. The intensity of the emission line at 750.4 nm due to 2p ₁ → 1s ₂ (Paschen’s notation) transition, closely follows the variation of n _e with RF power and filling gas pressure. Measured electron energy probability function (EEPF) shows that electron occupation mostly changes in the high-energy tail, which enlightens close similarity of the 750.4 nm argon line to electron number density (n _e ). The behaviour of the electron energy probability function (EEPF) with regard to pressure and RF power in two operational modes is presented.     

电负性气体的掺入对容性耦合Ar等离子体的影响

本文利用朗缪尔静电探针对掺入了电负性气体O₂, Cl₂, SF₆的由4068 MHz激发的单射频容性耦合Ar等离子体进行了诊断测量. 测量结果表明: 随着电负性气体流量的增加, 电子能量概率分布函数出现了高能峰, 高能峰且有向高能侧漂移的现象; 电负性气体掺入Ar等离子体后显著降低了等离子体的电子密度; 电子温度随着电负性气体流量比的增加而升高. 另外, 本文还测量了掺入三种电负性气体后在不同流量比下的混合气体等离子体的电负度α . 对实验现象进行了初步的解释. 关键词： 电负性等离子体 电子密度 电子温度 电负度     

13.56 MHz 低频功率对60 MHz射频容性耦合等离子体的电特性的影响

使用补偿朗缪尔探针诊断技术,研究了60MHz/13.56MHz双频激发容性耦合等离子体的空间电子行为,得到了电子能量概率函数(EEPF)随径向位置和低频输入功率的演变行为. 实验结果表明,13.56MHz射频输入功率的变化主要影响低能电子的布居,其影响随气压升高而加大. 在等离子体放电中心以外,EEPF呈现出双峰分布的特性,同时发现从放电中心到极板边缘,次能峰有逐渐向高能区漂移的现象,次能峰的出现显示了中能电子的增强的加热效应. 通过EEPF方法,计算了等离子体的电子温度、电子密度. 讨论了等离子体中的电 关键词： 双频激发容性耦合等离子体 朗缪尔探针诊断 电子加热模式     

Diagnosis of a low pressure capacitively coupled argon plasma by using a simple collisional-radiative model

This paper proposes a simple collisional-radiative model to characterise capacitively coupled argon plasmas driven by conventional radio frequency in combination with optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir probe measurements. Two major processes are considered in this model, electron-impact excitation and the spontaneous radiative decay. The diffusion loss term, which is found to be important for the two metastable states (4s[3/2]₂, 4s'[1/2]₀), is also taken into account. Behaviours of representative metastable and radiative states are discussed. Two emission lines (located at 696.5 nm and 750.4 nm) are selected and intensities are measured to obtain populated densities of the corresponding radiative states in the argon plasma. The calculated results agree well with that measured by Langmuir probe, indicating that the current model combined with optical emission spectroscopy is a candidate tool for electron density and temperature measurement in radio frequency capacitively coupled discharges.