Time-resolved diagnostics of a bipolar HiPIMS discharge
R. Hippler, Martin Čada, Zdeněk Hubička
Abstract
Bipolar high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with a yttrium target is investigated with the help of time-resolved diagnostics. The bipolar HiPIMS discharge is operated with a negative pulse with a width of 100μs, which is immediately followed by a positive pulse (pulse voltage up to +60 V) with a duration of ∼310μs. The time-resolved floating potential first rises to a large positive voltage of ∼55V at the beginning of the positive pulse (+60 V) and after 30μs drops to ∼38V. It indicates the ignition of a reversed discharge. Further evidence of such a reversed discharge is confirmed by time-resolved mass spectrometry and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy.
Topics & Concepts
High-power impulse magnetron sputteringMaterials sciencePulse durationImpulse (physics)Atomic physicsPulse (music)VoltageAnalytical Chemistry (journal)ChemistrySputteringLaserSputter depositionOpticsPhysicsThin filmNanotechnologyChromatographyQuantum mechanicsMetal and Thin Film MechanicsDiamond and Carbon-based Materials ResearchIon-surface interactions and analysis