• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.169-177
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• 2017

The role of electromagnetic (EM) waves in magnetic fusion plasma-ranging from radio frequency (RF) to microwaves-has been extremely important, and understanding of EM wave propagation and related technology in this field has significantly advanced magnetic fusion plasma research. Auxiliary heating and current drive systems, aided by various forms of high-power RF and microwave sources, have contributed to achieving the required steady-state operation of plasmas with high temperatures (i.e., up to approximately 10 keV; 1 eV=10000 K) that are suitable for future fusion reactors. Here, various resonance values and cut-off characteristics of wave propagation in plasmas with a nonuniform magnetic field are used to optimize the efficiency of heating and current drive systems. In diagnostic applications, passive emissions and active sources in this frequency range are used to measure plasma parameters and dynamics; in particular, measurements of electron cyclotron emissions (ECEs) provide profile information regarding electron temperature. Recent developments in state-of-the-art 2D microwave imaging systems that measure fluctuations in electron temperature and density are largely based on ECE. The scattering process, phase delays, reflection/diffraction, and the polarization of actively launched EM waves provide us with the physics of magnetohydrodynamic instabilities and transport physics.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.35-41
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• 2004

In computational study on RF(Radio Frequency) plasmas, a 1D fluid models with an advantage of a short computational time are often adopted. However, in order to obtain realistic calculation results under a typical chamber geometry with unequal-sized electrodes, modeling of the plasma space is an issue to be investigated. In this paper, it is focused on that how much a 1D model can approximate a 2D model. 1D fluid models with unequal-sized electrodes, which have spherical and frustum geometry systems, were developed and their results were compared with those of 2D model with Gaseous Electronic Conference cell structure. Behavior of $N_2$ RF plasmas has been simulated using 1D and 2D fluid models and a technique to take account of unequal-sized electrodes in a 1D fluid models has been examined. Features of the plasma density and the electric potential were discussed as characteristic quantities representing the asymmetry of the chamber geometry.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.401-409
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• 2013

Numerical analysis on RF (Radio-Frequency) thermal plasma treatment of micro-sized Ni metal was carried out to understand the synthesis mechanism of nano-sized Ni powder by RF thermal plasma. For this purpose, the behaviors of Ni metal particles injected into RF plasma torch were investigated according to their diameters ($1{\sim}100{\mu}m$), RF input power (6 ~ 12 kW) and the flow rates of carrier gases (2 and 5 slpm). From the numerical results, it is predicted firstly that the velocities of carrier gases need to be minimized because the strong injection of carrier gas can cool down the central column of RF thermal plasma significantly, which is used as a main path for RF thermal plasma treatment of micro-sized Ni metal. In addition, the residence time of the injected particles in the high temperature region of RF thermal plasma is found to be also reduced in proportion to the flow rate of the carrier gas In spite of these effects of carrier gas velocities, however, calculation results show that a Ni metal particle even with the diameter of $100{\mu}m$ can be completely evaporated at relatively low power level of 10 kW during its flight of RF thermal plasma torch (< 10 ms) due to the relatively low melting point and high thermal conductivity. Based on these observations, nano-sized Ni metal powders are expected to be produced efficiently by a simple treatment of micro-sized Ni metal using RF thermal plasmas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.63-66
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• 1996

Electron temperature and electron density were measured in a radio-frequency(rf) inductively coupled plasma using probe measurements. Measurements were made in an argon discharge for pressures from 10 to 100mTorr and input rf power from 100 to 800W. Spatial distribution Electron temperature and electron density were measured for discharge with same aspect ratio. Electron temperature and Electron density were found to depend on both pressure and power. Electron density was creased with increasing pressure, but peaked in a 70mTorr discharge. Radial distribution of the electron density was peaked in the plasma fringes. These results were compared to a simple model of inductively coupled plasmas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.251-256
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• 2004

A concept in which laser-sustained plasmas (LSPs) are combined with inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) is proposed. The concept is aiming at extensions of operative conditions of a CW laser thruster due to the fact that the ICP has some characteristics which are in contrast to those of LSPs. An estimation confirmed that the concept would effectively work. And a fundamental experiment was conducted. The results showed that the radio frequency magnetic field induced by a alternate current of 13.56 MHz coupled inductively with LSPs, resulting in the enlargement of the plasma region and the attainment of the enthalpy. It is expected that some improvements will enable to transfer the RF power to the work gas more effectively and to demonstrate the synergy effect between the LSPs and the ICPs.

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
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• v.4C no.5
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• pp.220-229
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• 2004

We have examined a technique of one-dimensional (1D) fluid modeling for radio-frequency Ar capacitively coupled plasmas (CCP) between unequal-sized powered and grounded electrodes. In order to simulate a practical CCP reactor configuration with a grounded side wall by the 1D model, it has been assumed that the discharge space has a conic frustum shape; the grounded electrode is larger than the powered one and the discharge space expands with the distance from the powered electrode. In this paper, we focus on how much a 1D model can approximate a 2D model and evaluate their comparisons. The plasma density calculated by the 1D model has been compared with that by a two-dimensional (2D) fluid model, and a qualitative agreement between them has been obtained. In addition, 1D and 2D calculation results for another reactor configuration with equal-sized electrodes have also been presented together for comparison. In the discussion, four CCP models, which are 1D and 2D models with symmetric and asymmetric geometries, are compared with each other and the DC self-bias voltage has been focused on as a characteristic property that reflects the unequal electrode surface areas. Reactor configuration and experimental parameters, which the self-bias depends on, have been investigated to develop the ID modeling for reactor geometry with unequal-sized electrodes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2016

Thin films synthesized by plasma processes have been widely applied in a variety of industrial sectors. The structure control of thin film is one of prime factor in most of these applications. It is well known that the structure of this film is closely associated with plasma parameters and species of plasma which are electrons, ions, radical and neutrals in plasma processes. However the precise control of structure by plasma process is still limited due to inherent complexity, reproducibility and control problems in practical implementation of plasma processing. Therefore the study on the fundamental physical properties that govern the plasmas becomes more crucial for molecular scale control of film structure and corresponding properties for new generation nano scale film materials development and application. The thin films are formed through nucleation and growth stages during thin film depostion. Such stages involve adsorption, surface diffusion, chemical binding and other atomic processes at surfaces. This requires identification, determination and quantification of the surface activity of the species in the plasma. Specifically, the ions and neutrals have kinetic energies ranging from ~ thermal up to tens of eV, which are generated by electron impact of the polyatomic precursor, gas phase reaction, and interactions with the substrate and reactor walls. The present work highlights these aspects for the controlled and low-temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapour disposition (PECVD) of Si-based films like crystalline Si (c-Si), Si-quantum dot, and sputtered crystalline C by the design and control of radicals, plasmas and the deposition energy. Additionally, there is growing demand on the low-temperature deposition process with low hydrogen content by PECVD. The deposition temperature can be reduced significantly by utilizing alternative plasma concepts to lower the reaction activation energy. Evolution in this area continues and has recently produced solutions by increasing the plasma excitation frequency from radio frequency to ultra high frequency (UHF) and in the range of microwave. In this sense, the necessity of dedicated experimental studies, diagnostics and computer modelling of process plasmas to quantify the effect of the unique chemistry and structure of the growing film by radical and plasma control is realized. Different low-temperature PECVD processes using RF, UHF, and RF/UHF hybrid plasmas along with magnetron sputtering plasmas are investigated using numerous diagnostics and film analysis tools. The broad outlook of this work also outlines some of the 'Grand Scientific Challenges' to which significant contributions from plasma nanoscience-related research can be foreseen.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.268-268
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• 2012

Atmospheric pressure microwave induced plasmas are used to excite and ionize chemical species for elemental analysis, for plasma reforming, and for plasma surface treatment. Microwave plasma differs significantly from other plasmas and has several interesting properties. For example, the electron density is higher in microwave plasma than in radio-frequency (RF) or direct current (DC) plasma. Several types of radical species with high density are generated under high electron density, so the reactivity of microwave plasma is expected to be very high [1]. Therefore, useful applications of atmospheric pressure microwave plasmas are expected. The surface characteristics of SUS304 stainless steel are investigated before and after surface modification by microwave plasma under atmospheric pressure conditions. The plasma device was operated by power sources with microwave frequency. We used a device based on a coaxial transmission line resonator (CTLR). The atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) in the case of microwave frequency (880 MHz) used Ar as plasma gas [2]. Typical microwave Pw was 3-10 W. To determine the optimal processing conditions, the surface treatment experiments were performed using various values of Pw (3-10 W), treatment time (5-120 s), and ratios of mixture gas (hydrogen peroxide). Torch-to-sample distance was fixed at the plasma edge point. Plasma treatment of a stainless steel plate significantly affected the wettability, contact angle (CA), and free energy (mJ/$m^2$) of the SUS304 surface. CA and ${\gamma}$ were analyzed. The optimal surface modification parameters to modify were a power of 10 W, a treatment time of 45 s, and a hydrogen peroxide content of 0.6 wt% [3]. Under these processing conditions, a CA of just $9.8^{\circ}$ was obtained. As CA decreased, wettability increased; i.e. the surface changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. From these results, 10 W power and 45 s treatment time are the best values to minimize CA and maximize ${\gamma}$.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.357-365
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• 2014

A non-invasive method for ion energy distribution measurement at a RF biased surface is proposed for monitoring the property of ion bombardments in capacitively coupled plasma sources. To obtain the ion energy distribution, the measured electrode voltage is analyzed based on the circuit model which is developed with the linearized sheath capacitance on the assumption that the RF driven sheath behaves like a simple diode for a bias power whose frequency is much lower than the ion plasma frequency. The method is verified by comparing the ion energy distribution function obtained from the proposed model with the experimental result taken from the ion energy analyzer in a dual cathode capacitively coupled plasma source driven by a 100 MHz source power and a 400 kHz bias power.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

Plasma researches using parallel-plate electrodes are widely used in semiconductor application such as etching and thin film deposition. Therefore, a quantitative understanding and control of plasma behavior are becoming increasingly necessary because their important applications and simulation techniques have been actively carried out in order to solve such problems above. In this paper, we developed a two-dimensional(2D) self-consistent fluid model, because 2D models can deal with real reactor geometries. The fluid model is based on particle continuity equations for taking account of an electrode system in a cylindrical geometry. An pure Ar gas was used at 500[mTorr] and radio-frequency (13.56(MHz)). Four models were simulated under the different electrode geometries which have chamber widths of 5.25, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0[cm] and we compared their results with each other. Plasma uniformity and a do self-bias voltage were also discussed.