An Inductively Coupled Plasma Source for the Gaseous Electronics Conference RF Reference Cell

In order to extend the operating range of the GEC RF Reference Cell, we developed an inductively coupled plasma source that replaced the standard parallel-plate upper-electrode assembly. Voltage and current probes, Langmuir probes, and an 80 GHz interferometer provided information on plasmas formed in argon, chlorine, and nitrogen at pressures from 0.1 Pa to 3 Pa. For powers deposited in the plasma from 20 W to 300 W, the source produced peak electron densities between 10¹⁰/cm³ and 10¹²/cm³ and electron temperatures near 4 eV. The electron density peaked on axis with typical full-width at half maximum of 7 cm to 9 cm. Discharges in chlorine and nitrogen had bimodal operation that was clearly evident from optical emission intensity. A dim mode occurred at low power and a bright mode at high power. The transition between modes had hysteresis. After many hours of high-power operation, films formed on electrodes and walls of one Cell. These deposits affected the dim-to-bright mode transition, and also apparently caused generation of hot electrons and increased the plasma potential.