• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.10
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• pp.1706-1711
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• 2016

Electromagnetic wave simulation was performed to predict characteristics of manufactured cutoff probe at low temperature magnetized plasma medium. Microwave cutoff probe is designed for research the properties of magnetized inductively coupled plasma. It was shown that the cutoff probe method can safely be used for weakly magnetized high density plasma sources. Cutoff probe system with two port network analyzer has been prepared and applied to measure electron density distributions in large area, 13.56MHz driven weakly magnetized inductively coupled plasma source. The results shown that, the plasma frequency confirmed cut-off characteristics in low temperature plasma. Especially, cut-off characteristics was found at upper hybrid resonance frequency in the environment of the magnetic field. In case of a induced weak magnetic field in inductively coupled plasma, plasma density estimated from the cutoff frequency in the same way at unmagnetized plasma due to nearly same plasma frequency and upper hybrid resonance frequency. The plasma density is increased and uniformity is improved by applying a induced weak magnetic field in inductively coupled plasma.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.438-440
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• 1995

The impedance characteristics and plasma parameters were experimentally studied in a weakly magnetized planar type, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. Compared with non-magnetized for system higher power transfer efficiency, stable impedance matching, enhancement of plasma density and higher electron temperature can be obtained. Such improvements are mainly due to the excitation of deeply penetrating electromagnetic wave and reduction of radial loss of electrons. In particulary, $SF_6$ (sulfur hexafluride) plasma shows unstable impedance matching in non-magnetized ICP because electronegativity of $SF_6$ effects on plasma characteristics. But, magnetized inductively coupled $SF_6$ plasma shows enough impedance matching stability to be applicable to the polysilicon etching in semiconductor process.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 1998

In developing the high density memory device, the etching of fine pattern is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, definition of ultra fine line and space pattern and minimization of damage and contamination are essential process. Also, the high density plasma in low operating pressure is necessary. The candidates of high density plasma sources are electron cyclotron resonance plasma, helicon wave plasma, helical resonator, and inductively coupled plasma. In this study, planar type magnetized inductively coupled plasma etcher has been built. The density and temperature of Ar plasma are measured as a function of rf power, flow rate, external magnetic field, and pressure. The oxide etch rate and selectivity to polysilicon are measured as the above mentioned conditions and self-bias voltage.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2016

Correlation between coil configurations and the discharge characteristics such as plasma density and the electron temperature in a newly designed magnetized inductively coupled plasma (M-ICP) etcher were investigated. Radial and axial magnetic flux density distributions as well as the magnetic flux density on the center of the substrate holder were controllable by placing multiple circular coils around the etcher. The plasma density increased up to 60.7% by arranging coils (or optimizing magnetic flux density distributions inside the etcher) properly although the magnetic flux density on the center of the substrate holder was fixed at 7 Gauss.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.366-370
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• 2015

New ion beam etcher (IBE) using a magnetized inductively coupled plasma (M-ICP) has been developed. The magnetic flux density distributions inside the upper chamber, where the plasma is generated by inductive coupling, were successfully optimized by arranging a pair of circular coils very carefully. More importantly, the proposed M-ICP IBE exhibits higher etch rate than ICP.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1997.07d
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• pp.1364-1366
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• 1997

Planar type magnetized inductively coupled plasma etcher has been built. The density and temperature of Ar plasma are measured as a function of rf power, external magnetic field, and pressure. The oxide etch rate and selectivity to polysilicon are measured as the above mentioned conditions and self-bias voltage.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.360-365
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• 2015

Spatial distributions of magnetic flux density in a newly designed magnetized inductively coupled plasma (M-ICP) etcher were investigated. Radial and axial magnetic flux densities as well as the magnetic flux density on the center of the substrate holder were controllable by placing multiple circular coils around the etcher properly. The plasma density non-uniformity in M-ICP (25 Gauss) can be reduced (1.4%) compared to that in ICP (16.7%) when the neutral gas pressure was 0.67 Pa and a right-hand circularly polarized wave (R-wave) can be propagated in to the etcher by making magnetic flux density increases both radially and axially from the center of the substrate holder.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2000

This paper proposes the improvement of the etch rate of GaN using a magnetized inductively coupled $CH_4/H_2/Ar$plasma. The gradient magnetic field with the axial direction is investigated using Gauss-meter and the ion current density is measured using double Langmuir probe. The applied magnetic field changes the ion current density profile in the radial direction, resulting in producing the higher density in the outer region than in the center. GaN dry etching process is carried out based on the measurements of the ion current density. The each rate of 2000 /min is achieved with $CH_4/H_2/Ar$ chemistries at 800 W input power, 250W rf bias power, 10 mTorr pressure and 100 gauss magnetic field.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2000.06b
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• pp.302-305
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• 2000

It is important to control the electron energy distribution to have high quality plasma process. A conventional inductively coupled plasma(ICP) source with 13.56MHz power is not adequate for low damage sub-half micron patterning process due to higher electron temperature. Only the pulsed plasma technique seems to provide low electron temperature, and thus low process damage. Recently, a novel method proposed by us, named as ‘Enhanced-ICP’, which uses periodic weak axial magnetic field added to a normal ICP source, has shown great improvement in etch characteristics. changes of plasma characteristics according to the frequency of time-varying axial magnetic field have been observed by probe-time-averaged Langmuir probe.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.8 no.4A
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• pp.476-481
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• 1999

Characteristics of platinum dry etching were investigated in a cryogenic magnetized inductively coupled plasma (MICP). The problem with platinum etching is the redeposition of sputtered platinum on the sidewall. Because of the redeposits on the sidewall, the etching of patterned platinum structure produces feature sizes that exceed the original dimension of the PR size and the etch profile has needle-like shape [1]. The main object of this study was to investigate a new process technology for fence-free Pt etching As bias voltage increased, the height of fence was reduced. In cryogenic etching, the height of fence was reduced to 20% at-$190^{\circ}C$ compared with that of room temperature, however the etch profile was not still fence-free. In Ar/$SF_6$ Plasma, fence-free Pt etching was possible. As the ratio of $SF_6$ gas flow is more than 14% of total gas flow, the etch profile had no fence. Chemical reaction seemed to take place in the etch process.