Noninvasive method for monitoring plasma parameters and dielectric thickness applicable to plasma processing.

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Title: Noninvasive method for monitoring plasma parameters and dielectric thickness applicable to plasma processing.
Authors: Seo, Beom-Jun1 (AUTHOR), Jung, Jiwon1 (AUTHOR), Choi, Jae-Hoon1 (AUTHOR), Ahn, Se-Hun1 (AUTHOR), Kim, Nayeon1 (AUTHOR), Chung, Chin-Wook1 (AUTHOR) joykang@hanyang.ac.kr
Source: Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology: Part A-Vacuums, Surfaces & Films. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p1-13. 13p.
Subjects: Plasma etching, Plasma materials processing, Dielectric strength, Plasma chemistry, Real-time computing
Abstract: Maintaining process uniformity is critical in high-aspect-ratio etching, where local plasma and surface conditions strongly influence etch performance. Among the hardware components affecting uniformity, the focus ring, a dielectric structure surrounding the wafer, plays a key role in shaping the edge plasma and maintaining uniform ion flux. However, its gradual erosion during operation causes nonuniform etch profiles, particle generation, and yield degradation, making real-time wear monitoring essential for stable, high-yield semiconductor processing. Here, we present an electrical sensing method for real-time, in situ monitoring of thick dielectric components under plasma operation. The plasma–dielectric system is modeled as an equivalent circuit, and dielectric thickness is extracted from capacitance using a dual-frequency method that decouples plasma effects. Fringing effects are incorporated into the ideal parallel-plate capacitor model using a Padé approximant, and the model is further refined by weighted least-squares fitting. The proposed method enables accurate thickness measurement despite plasma variations and provides a practical, noninvasive approach for monitoring both plasma parameters and focus ring wear during plasma processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology: Part A-Vacuums, Surfaces & Films is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 195070434
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Noninvasive method for monitoring plasma parameters and dielectric thickness applicable to plasma processing.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seo%2C+Beom-Jun%22">Seo, Beom-Jun</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jung%2C+Jiwon%22">Jung, Jiwon</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Choi%2C+Jae-Hoon%22">Choi, Jae-Hoon</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ahn%2C+Se-Hun%22">Ahn, Se-Hun</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Nayeon%22">Kim, Nayeon</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chung%2C+Chin-Wook%22">Chung, Chin-Wook</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> joykang@hanyang.ac.kr</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Vacuum+Science+%26+Technology%3A+Part+A-Vacuums%2C+Surfaces+%26+Films%22">Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology: Part A-Vacuums, Surfaces & Films</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p1-13. 13p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+etching%22">Plasma etching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+materials+processing%22">Plasma materials processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dielectric+strength%22">Dielectric strength</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+chemistry%22">Plasma chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Real-time+computing%22">Real-time computing</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Maintaining process uniformity is critical in high-aspect-ratio etching, where local plasma and surface conditions strongly influence etch performance. Among the hardware components affecting uniformity, the focus ring, a dielectric structure surrounding the wafer, plays a key role in shaping the edge plasma and maintaining uniform ion flux. However, its gradual erosion during operation causes nonuniform etch profiles, particle generation, and yield degradation, making real-time wear monitoring essential for stable, high-yield semiconductor processing. Here, we present an electrical sensing method for real-time, in situ monitoring of thick dielectric components under plasma operation. The plasma–dielectric system is modeled as an equivalent circuit, and dielectric thickness is extracted from capacitance using a dual-frequency method that decouples plasma effects. Fringing effects are incorporated into the ideal parallel-plate capacitor model using a Padé approximant, and the model is further refined by weighted least-squares fitting. The proposed method enables accurate thickness measurement despite plasma variations and provides a practical, noninvasive approach for monitoring both plasma parameters and focus ring wear during plasma processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology: Part A-Vacuums, Surfaces & Films is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1116/6.0005528
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Plasma etching
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plasma materials processing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dielectric strength
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plasma chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Real-time computing
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Noninvasive method for monitoring plasma parameters and dielectric thickness applicable to plasma processing.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Seo, Beom-Jun
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          Name:
            NameFull: Jung, Jiwon
      – PersonEntity:
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            NameFull: Choi, Jae-Hoon
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            NameFull: Ahn, Se-Hun
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          Name:
            NameFull: Kim, Nayeon
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            NameFull: Chung, Chin-Wook
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 07342101
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              Value: 44
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              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology: Part A-Vacuums, Surfaces & Films
              Type: main
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