Development of cluster ion source based on modulated pulse power magnetron sputtering technique

A new ion source based on modulated pulse power (MPP) magnetron sputtering (MSP) was developed and demonstrated for cluster production. By employing MPP-MSP, both silver and silicon cluster beams were produced and analyzed by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. It is found that the maximum intensity of silver cluster anions reaches 500 pA, which is considerably higher than that with a conventional DC-MSP. For silicon cluster cation, the overall ion intensity of the cluster beam by MPP-MSP is about three times higher than that generated by DC-MSP.