IOP Publishing, New Journal of Physics, 2(11), p. 023039, 2009
DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/2/023039
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The physical processes in an Ar/N-2 magnetron discharge used for the reactive sputter deposition of TiNx thin films were simulated with a 2d3v particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions (PIC)/MCC) model. Cathode currents and voltages were calculated self-consistently and compared with experiments. Also, ion fractions were calculated and validated with mass spectrometric measurements. With this PIC/MCC model, the influence of N-2/Ar gas ratio on the particle densities and fluxes was investigated, taking into account the effect of the poisoned state of the target.