A plasma flood gun includes a filament to emit first electrons based on a first filament current induced in the filament to heat the filament to a first temperature at a first time. The first electrons interact with an inert gas in an arc plasma chamber to generate a first plasma. A filament resistance meter measures a first filament resistance of the filament, in-situ, during generation of the first plasma. A filament current source adjusts, based on the first filament resistance, the first filament current induced in the filament at the first time to a second filament current induced in the filament at a second time to generate a second plasma in the arc plasma chamber at the second time.

A deposition apparatus comprises a target unit, an anode unit into which electrons emitted from the target unit flow, a striker configured to come into contact with the target unit to render the target unit and the anode unit conductive, so as to cause arc discharge between the target unit and the anode unit, a striker driving unit configured to drive the striker in one of a direction toward the target unit and a direction to retract from the target unit, a power supply unit configured to supply power to the target unit and the anode unit, and a control unit configured to control the striker driving unit and the power supply unit. The control unit supplies the power to the target unit and the anode unit after bringing the striker into contact with the target unit.

An arc extinguishing method for extinguishing arcs in a plasma chamber of a plasma system, comprising providing a plasma operating power during a plasma operation to the plasma chamber for generating plasma in the plasma chamber and carrying out a plasma-processing process using the generated plasma, by generating an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifying the generated analog signal on an amplifier path, monitoring, by an arc detection device, the plasma system for arcs, and in response to detecting an occurrence of an arc, controlling the DAC by the arc detection device such that the generated analog signal by the DAC is modified.

A plasma flood gun includes a filament to emit first electrons based on a first filament current induced in the filament to heat the filament to a first temperature at a first time. The first electrons interact with an inert gas in an arc plasma chamber to generate a first plasma. A filament resistance meter measures a first filament resistance of the filament, in-situ, during generation of the first plasma. A filament current source adjusts, based on the first filament resistance, the first filament current induced in the filament at the first time to a second filament current induced in the filament at a second time to generate a second plasma in the arc plasma chamber at the second time.

A plasma generation device includes: a pair of electrodes that cause plasma to be generated in atmospheric pressure by a voltage being applied between the pair of electrodes; and a power source that includes a step-up transformer that has a coupling coefficient of 0.9 or greater and 0.9999 or less and generates the voltage.

A vacuum arc deposition apparatus for forming a ta-C film on a substrate using arc discharge includes a holding unit that holds a target unit, an anode unit into which electrons emitted from the target unit flow, and a power supply that supplies, between the target unit and the anode unit, a current for generating a plasma by arc discharge. The current supplied by the power supply at the time of the arc discharge is generated by superimposing, on a DC current, a pulse current of a pulse frequency not higher than 140 Hz.

The invention relates to a method for operating a pulsed discontinuous spark discharge. The spark is fed via a capacitor. Between the pulses there are switched-off time intervals during which no spark current flows. Within the pulses, that is to say during the switched-on time intervals, the supply of charge is stopped upon a current threshold being reached and is restarted, with the result that subpulses occur within the pulses. The time intervals and subpulses are chosen according to the invention such that when the capacitor is switched on again, the spark discharge readily ignites again.

A coating system that reduces parasitic currents that may cause crazing in coatings on a substrate. In one example, the system includes a pair of low impedance shunt paths to ground for parasitic AC currents generated from the plasma in the chamber. The low impedance shunts may be provided through a balanced triaxial connection between a power supply of each chamber and the magnetrons of each chamber. In another example, potential differences between adjacent chambers are minimized through synchronized power supply signals between chambers.

Methods and systems are provided for increasing energy output from Z-pinch and other plasma confinement systems. In one example, a system may include memory storing instructions that, if executed by one or more processors, cause the system to adjust one or more parameters to generate a magnetic field which is sufficiently strong to axially compress a fuel gas to induce thermonuclear fusion and increase a fusion energy gain factor greater than a fusion energy gain factor limit attainable by the thermonuclear fusion. In certain examples, adjusting the one or more parameters may include adjusting a duty cycle of a discharge current applied to the fuel gas based, at least in part, on an amount of thermal collisions between fusion byproducts and the fuel gas. In certain examples, by adjusting the duty cycle, the magnetic field may be adjusted to induce or increase the thermal collisions.

An arc deposition system includes a coating chamber and a central cathode target disposed within the coating chamber. At least two anodes surround the central cathode target. Each anode is positively biased with respect to the central cathode target such that each anode independently induces an associated racetrack erosion profile on the central cathode target. At least two magnetic components are located within the central cathode target. The magnetic components guide an associated arc that forms its associated racetrack erosion profile. Characteristically, each anode of the at least two anodes has an associated magnetic component.