Patent ID: 6296742
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: C23C,H01J,H03K

Abstract:
A method of magnetically enhanced sputtering comprising:(a) providing a magnetic field in a magnetron configuration at the surface of a target, from which material is to be sputtered;(b) providing a sputtering gas to be ionized in a chamber containing the target; and(c) applying a negative voltage between an anode and a cathode in the chamber, the cathode producing electrons trapped in the magnetic field; andwherein (c) is practiced in a manner so that the negative voltage is applied in pulses having peak voltage and so that in the application of each said pulse, a rapid voltage increase is provided at the leading pulse edge in a manner so that during the rapid voltage increase at the leading pulse edge the gas located at and in the region in which the electrons are trapped by the magnetic field first adopts a glow discharge state, then continues to an arc discharge state, and thereafter to a fully ionized state creating a substantially homogeneous plasma having a high rate of ionizing the sputtering gas.