The plasma characteristics and film formation generated by the electron cyclotron resonance mechanism

Silicon nitride thin film (SiN_x) is deposited onto the 3 inch silicon wafer using an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma apparatus. The plasma parameters from N₂-SiH₄ electron cyclotron resonance plasma are obtained. Radial distribution of radical atom density is determined by optical emission spectroscopy. From the comparison of the uniformities of deposited film thickness, electron density and radical atom density, it was concluded that the uniformity of film thickness is related to that of radical density rather than plasma density. The dependence of the uniformity film thickness on the waveguide mode was also examined