Patent ID: 6869509

Claim:
An arc source for vaporizing materials in a vacuum chamber, comprising: a target ( 11 ) switched as a cathode, a current supply ( 6 ) for powering the arc source, at least one counter-electrode ( 8 ) at least substantially laterally encompassing the target ( 11 ), a housing ( 4 ) on which or in which individual parts of the arc source ( 1 ) are disposed, a cooling plate ( 10 ) connected in a vacuum-tight manner to the housing ( 4 ) and a magnet system ( 5 ) disposed on the backside of the cooling plate ( 10 ) or on the backside of the cooling plate ( 10 ) and at a distance that is adjustable with respect to the target ( 11 ), the counter-electrode ( 8 ) or the counter-electrode ( 8 ) and at least a portion of housing ( 4 ), being electrically insulated relative to the vacuum chamber an the target ( 11 ).