M. Dickson et al., QUENCHING OF ELECTRON-TEMPERATURE AND ELECTRON-DENSITY IN IONIZED PHYSICAL VAPOR-DEPOSITION, Journal of vacuum science & technology. A. Vacuum, surfaces, and films, 15(2), 1997, pp. 340-344
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Physics, Applied","Materials Science, Coatings & Films
The addition of sputtered metal atoms to a high density plasma results
in the ionization of the metal species. The ionized physical vapor de
position technique allows the deposition of metal films from ionic spe
cies and is a potential method for the fabrication of integrated circu
its with high aspect ratio interconnect features. Maximizing the tempe
rature and density of the plasma electrons is important to optimizing
the ionization of metal. The present work reports that the electron te
mperature and electron density of the plasma decrease with increasing
metal density. Direct measurement of electron temperature quenching us
ing a rf compensated Langmuir probe demonstrates a similar to 20% decr
ease in electron temperature due to metal additions of similar to 10(1
2) atoms/cm(3). The electron density is determined using microwave int
erferometry and decreases by similar to 15% as metal atoms are added t
o the discharge. A fixed temperature global model, however, indicates
that thermalized metal atoms should increase the electron density. Gas
heating due to energetic sputtered neutrals is shown to be responsibl
e for the observed decrease in electron density. (C) 1997 American Vac
uum Society.