Simulation of a Langmuir Probe in an ECR Reactor

ECR Reactor 내의 Langmuir Probe 시뮬레이션

In ECR and helicon reactors for plasma processing, a high density plasma is generated in a source region which is connected to a diffusion region where the processing takes place. Large density and potential gradients can develop at the orifice of the source which drive ion currents into the diffusion region. The average ion velocity may become the order of the sound velocity. Measurements of the ion saturation current to a Langmuir probe are used as a standard method of determining the plasma density in laboratory discharges. However, the analysis becomes difficult in a steaming plasma. We have used the HAMLET plasma simulator to simulate the ion flow to a large langmuir probe in an ECR plasma. The collection surface was aligned with the Held upstream, normal to the field, and downstream. ion trajectories through the electric and magnetic fields were calculated including ion-neutral collisions. We examines the ratio of ion current density to plasma density as a function of magnetic field and pressure.