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Macroscopic modeling of radio-frequency plasma discharges

Journal Article · · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.576220· OSTI ID:6167778

We describe a self-consistent model of a symmetric plane parallel rf discharge. The model is built upon basic laws such as conservation of particles and energy, and is capable of predicting rapidly the important discharge parameters from a processing point of view, such as the ion energy and flux to the electrodes. The following physics is incorporated into the model: energy-dependent electron--neutral ionization, excitation and elastic scattering; nonuniform, self-consistent collisionless and collisional rf sheaths; electron Ohmic heating by elastic scattering in the sheaths and bulk plasma stochastic heating by the oscillating fields in the sheaths; electron energy losses to neutrals through collisions and to the electrodes; ambipolar ion diffusion; and total rf power balance. A set of equations describing this dynamics has been obtained and used in a code to simulate different discharges. The model has proven to be useful in comparing the effect of varying parameters on the discharge. Comparisons with experimental results show a good agreement between predicted and measured parameters.

Research Organization:
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the Electronics Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
OSTI ID:
6167778
Journal Information:
J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 7:3; ISSN JVTAD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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