Radial optical emission profiles of radio frequency glow discharges

Abstract

Radial optical emission profiles are determined from Abel inverted emission spectroscopy of a parallel plate radio frequency system known as a GEC Reference Cell. These profiles in general show a nonuniform plasma, annular in shape. Etching results of silicon wafers also follow this annular pattern. This effect is explained by numerically computed large radial and axial electric fields near the edge of the electrodes, produced by the presence of the grounded dark shields.