Streaming metal plasma generation by vacuum arc plasma guns

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1148718· OSTI ID:591900

MacGill, R A; Dickinson, M R; Anders, A; Monteiro, O R; Brown, I G ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

We have developed several different embodiments of repetitively pulsed vacuum arc metal plasma gun, including miniature versions, multicathode versions that can produce up to 18 different metal plasma species between which one can switch, and a compact high-duty cycle well-cooled version, as well as a larger dc gun. Plasma guns of this kind can be incorporated into a vacuum arc ion source for the production of high-energy metal ion beams, or used as a plasma source for thin film formation and for metal plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition. The source can also be viewed as a low-energy metal ion source with ion drift velocity in the range 20{endash}200 eV depending on the metal species used. Here we describe the plasma sources that we have developed, the properties of the plasma generated, and summarize their performance and limitations. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 591900
• Report Number(s): CONF-980145--
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 69; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CATHODES
ION DRIFT
ION IMPLANTATION
ION SOURCES
KEV RANGE
METALS
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA GUNS
PLASMA PRODUCTION
USES
VACUUM SYSTEMS