Publication
Title
Behavior of electrons in a dual-magnetron sputter deposition system : a Monte Carlo model
Author
Abstract
A Monte Carlo model has been developed for investigating the electron behavior in a dual-magnetron sputter deposition system. To describe the three-dimensional (3D) geometry, different reference frames, i.e. a local and a global coordinate system, were used. In this study, the influence of both closed and mirror magnetic field configurations on the plasma properties is investigated. In the case of a closed magnetic field configuration, the calculated electron trajectories show that if an electron is emitted in (or near) the center of the cathode, where the influence of the magnetic field is low, it is able to travel from one magnetron to the other. On the other hand, when an electron is created at the race track area, it is more or less trapped in the strong magnetic field and cannot easily escape to the second magnetron region. In the case of a mirror magnetic field configuration, irrespective of where the electron is emitted from the cathode, it cannot travel from one magnetron to the other because the magnetic field lines guide the electron to the substrate. Moreover, the electron density and electron impact ionization rate have been calculated and studied in detail for both configurations.
Language
English
Source (journal)
New journal of physics / Institute of Physics [Londen]; German Physical Society. - Bristol
Publication
Bristol : 2011
ISSN
1367-2630
DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/13/3/033018
Volume/pages
13 (2011) , p. 033018,1-033018,17
Article Reference
033018
ISI
000289064600001
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
CalcUA as central calculation facility: supporting core facilities.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 25.03.2011
Last edited 22.01.2024
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