Role of Magnetic Field Configuration in a Performance of Extended Magnetron Sputtering System with a Cylindrical Cathode

Extended unbalanced magnetron sputtering system based on the cylindrical magnetron with a rotating cathode was developed. The unbalanced configuration of magnetic field was realized by means of additional lines of permanent magnets, placed along both sides of a 89 mm outer diameter and 600 mm long cylindrical cathode. The performance of the unbalanced magnetron was assessed in terms of the ion current density and the ion-to-atom ratio incident at the substrate. Furthermore, the paper presents the comparison of the internal plasma parameters, such as the electron temperature, electron density, plasma and floating potentials, measured by a Langmuir probe in various positions from the cathode, for conventional and unbalanced constructions of the cylindrical magnetron. The plasma density and ion current density are about 3-5 times higher than those of conventional one, in the unbalanced magnetron in a 0.24 Pa Ar atmosphere with a DC cathode power of 3 kW.