Radio-frequency phase-modulation of spatial electron density in a two-frequency confined capacitive coupled discharge

POSTER

Abstract

The effects of oscillating sheath, hence the dynamics of electron flow in the bulk plasma can be of significant importance in modeling a two or multi frequency capacitive coupled system. Most of the modeling results deal with bounded plasma sheath boundary, defined by the point of separation of maximum electron displacement from the positive space charge sheath. However in practical applications, the discharge gap is narrow ($\sim $ 1 cm) as is the case in a standard plasma processing tool (Exelan$^{\mbox{{\texttrademark}}}$, Lam Research Inc.) routinely used in semi-conductor manufacturing industries. The rf-sheaths can be a substantial fraction of the separation between the electrodes, leading to significant amount of electric field perturbing the bulk plasma density. We report on an experimental investigation of space and phase-resolve electron density using a floating hairpin resonance probe in a modified plasma tool (Exelan); the discharge is powered with the sum of voltages at 27.12 MHz and 1.937 MHz drive frequencies in Ar/O2/C$_{4}$F$_{8}$ gas mixtures. The results show that the electron density is modulated in the bulk of the discharge at both driving frequencies (1.937~MHz + 27.12 MHz). At the centre of the discharge the modulation frequency is twice the low frequency cycle due to the exclusion of electrons from the opposite sheath at alternate phase of the low-frequency cycle.

Authors

  • Paule Maguire

    Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lamar University, Applied Materials, Sandia National Laboratories, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Ecole Polytechnique, France, Assistant Research Professor, University of Saskatchewan, PPPL, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Institut fur Niedertemperatur Plasmaphysik, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology \& New York University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, St.Petersburg State Politechnical University, St.Petersburg, Russia, Hanyang University, University of Nantes, Eindhoven University of Technology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Air Force Research Laboratory, Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc, University of Cambridge, UK, University of Bristol, UK, University Kiel, Germany, INP Greifswald, Germany, KRISS, INP, Greifswald, Germany, Australian National University, Drake University, University of Central Florida, University of Missouri-Rolla, John Carroll University, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Southampton, UK and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Nottingham, UK, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Department of Computer Science, Lamar University, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Russia, Univ. of Houston, Dublin City University, Ireland, West Virginia University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 3M Company, Samsung Electronics, Kyoto University, EM2C, Ecole Centrale, CNRS, Chatenay, France, University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr Uni Bochum, LSP, UJF, CNRS, Grenoble, France, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tech-X Corporation, Dublin City University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, The Open University, United Kingdom, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, University of Minnesota, Universit\'e Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, France, Nagoya University, Japan, West Virginia University, Physics Department, Morgantown, WV 26506-6315, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, CPST, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, CAMS, Australian National University, Schuster Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK, Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, Griffith University, ISAS/JAXA, University of Tokyo, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, University of Texas at Austin, LTM, Grenoble, LSP, Grenoble, CPAT,Toulouse, LPGP, Orsay, France, NRL-NRC Postdoctoral Associate, SFA, Crofton, MD, Center for Plasma Science and Technology CPST, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Physics, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45141 Essen, Germany, LACE, UCBL, CNRS, Lyon, France, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Palaiseau, France, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, UES, INC., Dayton, OH, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, Suzuka National College of Technology, Japan, Plasma Research Laboratory, NCPST, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland, University Greifswald, Germany, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Nagoya University, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elec. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elect. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, The Ohio State University (OH), Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, CAMS, Murdoch University, Australia, Drake University, USA, Gothenburg University, University of Wisconsin- Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physics Dept., Sophia University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-855, Japan, ARC Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, SoCPES, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001 Australia, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / New York University, National Fusion Research Center / Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Courant Institute-NYU, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / NewYork University, Sandia National Labs, Plasma, Pulsed-Power, and Microwave Lab, Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Dept., University of Michigan, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Gloucester, MA, Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, Sheffield Hallam University, GE Global Research, Kintech, University of Nebraska, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, CAMS, Flinders University, Australia, University of Nantes, France, CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL, USA, Research Professor

  • Paule Maguire

    Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lamar University, Applied Materials, Sandia National Laboratories, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Ecole Polytechnique, France, Assistant Research Professor, University of Saskatchewan, PPPL, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Institut fur Niedertemperatur Plasmaphysik, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology \& New York University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, St.Petersburg State Politechnical University, St.Petersburg, Russia, Hanyang University, University of Nantes, Eindhoven University of Technology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Air Force Research Laboratory, Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc, University of Cambridge, UK, University of Bristol, UK, University Kiel, Germany, INP Greifswald, Germany, KRISS, INP, Greifswald, Germany, Australian National University, Drake University, University of Central Florida, University of Missouri-Rolla, John Carroll University, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Southampton, UK and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Nottingham, UK, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Department of Computer Science, Lamar University, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Russia, Univ. of Houston, Dublin City University, Ireland, West Virginia University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 3M Company, Samsung Electronics, Kyoto University, EM2C, Ecole Centrale, CNRS, Chatenay, France, University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr Uni Bochum, LSP, UJF, CNRS, Grenoble, France, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tech-X Corporation, Dublin City University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, The Open University, United Kingdom, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, University of Minnesota, Universit\'e Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, France, Nagoya University, Japan, West Virginia University, Physics Department, Morgantown, WV 26506-6315, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, CPST, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, CAMS, Australian National University, Schuster Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK, Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, Griffith University, ISAS/JAXA, University of Tokyo, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, University of Texas at Austin, LTM, Grenoble, LSP, Grenoble, CPAT,Toulouse, LPGP, Orsay, France, NRL-NRC Postdoctoral Associate, SFA, Crofton, MD, Center for Plasma Science and Technology CPST, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Physics, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45141 Essen, Germany, LACE, UCBL, CNRS, Lyon, France, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Palaiseau, France, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, UES, INC., Dayton, OH, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, Suzuka National College of Technology, Japan, Plasma Research Laboratory, NCPST, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland, University Greifswald, Germany, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Nagoya University, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elec. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elect. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, The Ohio State University (OH), Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, CAMS, Murdoch University, Australia, Drake University, USA, Gothenburg University, University of Wisconsin- Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physics Dept., Sophia University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-855, Japan, ARC Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, SoCPES, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001 Australia, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / New York University, National Fusion Research Center / Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Courant Institute-NYU, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / NewYork University, Sandia National Labs, Plasma, Pulsed-Power, and Microwave Lab, Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Dept., University of Michigan, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Gloucester, MA, Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, Sheffield Hallam University, GE Global Research, Kintech, University of Nebraska, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, CAMS, Flinders University, Australia, University of Nantes, France, CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL, USA, Research Professor

  • Paule Maguire

    Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lamar University, Applied Materials, Sandia National Laboratories, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Ecole Polytechnique, France, Assistant Research Professor, University of Saskatchewan, PPPL, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Institut fur Niedertemperatur Plasmaphysik, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology \& New York University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, St.Petersburg State Politechnical University, St.Petersburg, Russia, Hanyang University, University of Nantes, Eindhoven University of Technology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Air Force Research Laboratory, Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc, University of Cambridge, UK, University of Bristol, UK, University Kiel, Germany, INP Greifswald, Germany, KRISS, INP, Greifswald, Germany, Australian National University, Drake University, University of Central Florida, University of Missouri-Rolla, John Carroll University, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Southampton, UK and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Nottingham, UK, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Department of Computer Science, Lamar University, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Russia, Univ. of Houston, Dublin City University, Ireland, West Virginia University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 3M Company, Samsung Electronics, Kyoto University, EM2C, Ecole Centrale, CNRS, Chatenay, France, University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr Uni Bochum, LSP, UJF, CNRS, Grenoble, France, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tech-X Corporation, Dublin City University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, The Open University, United Kingdom, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, University of Minnesota, Universit\'e Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, France, Nagoya University, Japan, West Virginia University, Physics Department, Morgantown, WV 26506-6315, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, CPST, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, CAMS, Australian National University, Schuster Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK, Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, Griffith University, ISAS/JAXA, University of Tokyo, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, University of Texas at Austin, LTM, Grenoble, LSP, Grenoble, CPAT,Toulouse, LPGP, Orsay, France, NRL-NRC Postdoctoral Associate, SFA, Crofton, MD, Center for Plasma Science and Technology CPST, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Physics, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45141 Essen, Germany, LACE, UCBL, CNRS, Lyon, France, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Palaiseau, France, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, UES, INC., Dayton, OH, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, Suzuka National College of Technology, Japan, Plasma Research Laboratory, NCPST, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland, University Greifswald, Germany, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Nagoya University, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elec. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elect. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, The Ohio State University (OH), Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, CAMS, Murdoch University, Australia, Drake University, USA, Gothenburg University, University of Wisconsin- Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physics Dept., Sophia University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-855, Japan, ARC Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, SoCPES, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001 Australia, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / New York University, National Fusion Research Center / Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Courant Institute-NYU, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / NewYork University, Sandia National Labs, Plasma, Pulsed-Power, and Microwave Lab, Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Dept., University of Michigan, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Gloucester, MA, Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, Sheffield Hallam University, GE Global Research, Kintech, University of Nebraska, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, CAMS, Flinders University, Australia, University of Nantes, France, CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL, USA, Research Professor