Optimization of a plasma focus device as an electron beam source for thin film deposition

Electron beam emission characteristics from neon, argon, hydrogen and helium in an NX2 dense plasma focus (DPF) device were investigated in order to optimize the plasma focus device for deposition of thin films using energetic electron beams. A Rogowski coil and CCD based magnetic spectrometer were used to obtain temporal characteristics, total electron charge and energy distributions of electron emission from the NX2 DPF device. It is found that hydrogen should be the first choice for thin film deposition as it produces the highest electron beam charge and higher energy (from 50 to 200 keV) electrons. Neon is the next best choice as it gives the next highest electron beam charge with mid-energy (from 30 to 70 keV) electrons. The operation of NX2 with helium at voltages above 12 kV produces a mid-energy (from 30 to 70 keV) electron beam with low-electron beam charge, however, argon is not a good electron beam source for our NX2 DPF device. Preliminary results of the first ever thin film deposition using plasma focus assisted pulsed electron deposition using a hydrogen operated NX2 plasma focus device are presented.