• Vacuum Magazine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.10-14
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• 2017

In this paper, I present the introduction of cutoff probe in plasma diagnostics. This paper shows the whole progress for the cutoff probe including how to start to develop the cutoff probe in the initial period, what idea has been included during the development, how to evolve the probe during ten years.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.148-148
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• 2012

A cutoff probe is the novel diagnostic method to get the absolute plasma density with simple system and less assumption. However, high density of ion flux from plasma on probe tip can make the error of plasma density measurement because the dielectric material of probe tip can be damaged by ion flux. We proposed a shielded cutoff probe using the ceramic tube for protection from ion flux. The ceramic tube on probe tip can intercept the ion flux from plasma. The transmitted spectrum using the shielded cutoff probe is good agreement with E/M wave simulation result (CST Microwave Studio) and previous circuit simulation of cutoff probe [1]. From the analysis of the measured transmitted spectrum base on the circuit modeling, the parallel resonance frequency is same as the unshielded cutoff probe case. The obtained results of electron density is presented and discussed in wide range of experimental conditions, together with comparison result with previous cutoff method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.185.1-185.1
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• 2016

Cutoff probe, diagnostics instrument for plasma density, have been received an extensive attention due to simple, robust and lowest assumption. Although the cutoff probe has a long history, physical model is limited in low density plasma. For that reason, we propose a novel transmission line model of cutoff probe for precise measurement of high density plasma. In addition simplified circuit model can be obtained from transmission line model. It can explain simply physics of cutoff probe in high density plasma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.235.1-235.1
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• 2014

Precise measurement of plasma parameters including density and temperature is the most essential part for understanding plasma characteristics. To persue more accurate measurement, it is very important to understand the intrinsic error of the measurement method. In this paper, we performed the plasma measurement with different method; langmuire probe and cutoff probe. Both measurement technology are known to be exactly correlate with etch other. We conducted the four set of same experiments process by diffrent persons to observe the intrinsic error based on measurement tools. As a result, the cutoff probe is relatively reliable then the Langmuir probe. This difference is analyzed to be intrinsic since it cames from the inevitable error such as manufacturing of probe tip. From this study, we sure that it is good decision to choose cutoff probe as repeatable measurement independent with intrinsic human factor.

• 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 Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.576-576
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• 2013

Recently, diagnostics of plasma becomes more important due to requirement of precise control of plasma processing based on measurement of plasma characteristics. The Langmuir probe has been used for the diagnostics but it has an inevitable uncertainty and error sources such as incorrect tip length and RF noise. Instead of the Langmuir probe, various diagnostic methods have been developed and researched. The cutoff probe is promising one for plasma density using microwaves and resonance phenomenon at the plasma frequency. The cutoff probe has various advantages as follows; (i) it is simple and robust, (ii) it uses few assumptions, and (iii) it is free from deposition by reactive gas. However, the cutoff probe also has uncertainty and error sources such as gap between tips, tip length, direction of tip plane, and RF noise. In this study, the uncertainty and error sources in manufacturing both probes and in diagnostics process were analyzed via comparative experiment at various discharge conditions. Furthermore, to reveal the user dependence of both probes, three well trained Ph. D students made the Langmuir probe and the cutoff probe, respectively, and it were analyzed. Thought this study, it is established that reliability and validity of the Langmuir probe and the cutoff probe related with not only the intrinsic characteristics of probes but also probe user.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.184-184
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• 2012

We proposed a new measurement method of cutoff probe using the reactance spectrum of the plasma in cutoff probe system instead of transmission spectrum. The high accurate reactance spectrum of the plasma which is expected in previous circuit simulation of cutoff probe [1] was measured by using the automatic port extension method of the network analyzer. The measured reactance spectrum is good agreement with E/M wave simulation result (CST Microwave Studio). From the analysis of the measured reactance spectrum based on the circuit modeling, not only the electron density but also electron-neutral collision frequency can be simply obtained. The obtained results of electron density and e-n collision frequency were presented and discussed in wide range of experimental conditions, together with comparison result with previous methods (a previous cutoff probe using transmission spectrum and a single langmuir probe).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.142-142
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• 2011

Microwave diagnostics method for plasma science and engineering is vigorous research area for its good characteristics such as high sensitivity, reliability, and broad measurement spectrum from low density plasma to high density. We investigate mechanism of microwave probes (hairpin, impedance and absorbtionf probe) and apply it for interpretation of full transmitted spectrum of cutoff probe. Mechanism of the spectrum having same key roles of I-V curve of Langmuir probe is not exactly revealed yet in spite of its importance. This study elucidates physics behind it using a circuit model and E/M wave simulation. Circuit model reveals exact cut-off peak frequency taking account of a collision frequency and a plasma frequency and it enable precise diagnostics of plasma densty from low pressure to high pressre. Cut-off like peaks have been obstacle for choosing cut-off peak is analyzed by E/M simulation and one of cutoff like peaks made by probe holder used for acquire plasma density with cutoff peak applying the hairpin relation. Furthermore, phase difference method for plasma density is conducted. This method uses a single microwave frequency source and it is low-priced.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.30-30
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• 2011

The wave-cutoff tool is a new diagnostic method to measure electron density and electron temperature. Most of the plasma diagnostic tools have the disadvantage that their application to processing plasma where toxic and reactive gases are used gives rise to many problems such as contamination, perturbation, precision of measurement, and so on. We can minimize these problems by using the wave-cutoff method. Here, we will present the results obtained through the development of the wave-cutoff diagnostic method. The frequency spectrum characteristics of the wave-cutoff probe will be obtained experimentally and analyzed through the microwave field simulation by using the CST-MW studio simulator. The plasma parameters are measured with the wave-cutoff method in various discharge conditions and its results will be compared with the results of Langmuir probe. Another disadvantage is that other diagnostic methods spend a long time (~ a few seconds) to measure plasma parameters. In this presentation, a fast measurement method will be also introduced. The wave-cutoff probe system consists of two antennas and a network analyzer. The network analyzer provides the transmission spectrum and the reflection spectrum by frequency sweeping. The plasma parameters such as electron density and electron temperature are obtained through these spectra. The frequency sweeping time, the time resolution of the wave-cutoff method, is about 1 second. A short pulse with a broad band spectrum of a few GHz is used with an oscilloscope to acquire the spectra data in a short time. The data acquisition time can be reduced with this method. Here, the plasma parameter measurement methods, Langmuir probe, pulsed wave-cutoff method and frequency sweeping wave-cutoff method, are compared. The measurement results are well matched. The real time resolution is less than 1 ?sec. The pulsed wave-cutoff technique is found to be very useful in the transient plasmas such as pulsed plasma and tokamak edge plasma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.147-147
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• 2012

Cutoff probe has been used for measuring a plasma density using the cutoff peak which is located at the plasma frequency in the low pressure plasma. However, research on analysis of low frequency region of transmission microwave frequency (TMF) spectrum does not performed even though important plasma parameters are located in the low frequency region, i.e., ion plasma frequency and collision frequency. In this research, we analyzed the low frequency region of the TMF spectrum. Experimental results reveal the effect of plasma parameters on the low frequency region on the TMF spectrum. Based on the response of TMF spectrum from changing of plasma parameters, deduction of the plasma parameters was tried. This comprehensive analysis of TMF spectrum expands applicable area of cutoff probe.