Patent ID: 6342132
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A method for controlling gas density in an ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD) device wherein atoms are sputtered from a magnetron cathode and ionized in a plasma, the plasma being formed in the gas, the method comprising the steps of:flowing the gas through the device, powering the magnetron during a first time period T1 to produce a flux of atoms, heat the gas with said flux of atoms, depowering the magnetron during a second time period T2, cooling the gas resident in the device by the continued flow of gas through the device, wherein the flow of gas through the device is characterized by a residence time &tgr;, and T1+T7&gE;&tgr;, and said powering and depowering steps are performed in accordance with the residence time, so as to prevent rarefaction of the gas by heating thereof due to the flux of atoms.