Formation of diamond like carbon by a pure carbon arc under high vacuum

The are discharge plasma of solid carbon has been applied to the formation of hard carbon thin films. A double-mesh electrode is placed at the exit of the sharply directed are plasma column confined in the magnetic bottle. Th e radio frequency voltage applied to the electrode is effective to diverge the plasma column radially to form a uniform plasma in front of the substra te and also to remove macroparticles. The characteristics of the obtained f ilm are examined using Raman spectra and other techniques.