Effects of oxygen addition to argon glow discharges: A hybrid Monte Carlo-fluid modeling investigation

A hybrid model is developed for describing the effects of oxygen addition to argon glow discharges. The species taken into account in the model include Ar atoms in the ground state and the metastable level, O₂ gas molecules in the ground state and two metastable levels, O atoms in the ground state and one metastable level, O₃ molecules, Ar⁺, O⁺, O₂⁺ and O^? ions, as well as the electrons. The hybrid model consists of a Monte Carlo model for electrons and fluid models for the other plasma species. In total, 87 different reactions between the various plasma species are taken into account. Calculation results include the species densities and the importance of their production and loss processes, as well as the dissociation degree of oxygen. The effect of different O₂ additions on these calculation results, as well as on the sputtering rates, is discussed.