Control of Electron Energy Distribution Functions by Current Waveform Tailoring in Inductively Coupled Radio Frequency Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method using current waveform tailoring in inductively coupled RF plasmas to control electron energy distributions and plasma chemistry, enabling precise electrical manipulation of plasma properties.

Contribution

It proposes a new approach employing current waveform shaping to actively control EEPF and plasma chemistry in RF plasmas, demonstrated through particle-in-cell simulations.

Findings

Sawtooth waveforms enable breaking electric field symmetry.

Control of EEPF and plasma chemistry demonstrated.

Electrical control over plasma dynamics achieved.

Abstract

Based on two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations a novel approach towards Electron Energy Probability Function (EEPF) and plasma chemistry control by Current Waveform Tailoring (CWT) in the coil of inductively coupled discharges is proposed. Varying the shape of this current waveform provides electrical control of the dynamics of the electric field in the plasma. Using sawtooth instead of sinusoidal waveforms allows breaking and controlling the temporal symmetry of the electric field dynamics. In this way CWT allows controlling the EEPF, the ionization-to-excitation rate ratio, and the plasma chemistry.