Étude des sources plasma micro-onde à structure coaxiale pour la conception amont d'applicateurs à transformateur d'impédance intégré. Influence de la pression, de la géométrie et de la fréquence d'excitation

摘要

The work done within the framework of this thesis focuses on the study of magnetized and nonmagnetizedplasmas produced by coaxial structures that serve both as wave propagator and as plasma matchedimpedance coupler but also as investigation and characterization probe of the discharge. Special attention isgiven to the efficiency of coupling between the electromagnetic wave and the discharge and of speciesproduction, for different operating conditions: excitation frequency (352 and 2450 MHz), magnetic configurationand geometry of the applicator. Quantitative and comparative analysis presented in this work is based both on anexperimental and a theoretical approach. Developed analytical models and conducted electromagnetic simulationare set in connection with the experimental measurements in order to determine, on the one hand, the plasmaimpedance de-embedded of the wave propagation structure and, on the other hand, the global and localabsorption of the wave. From the experimental point of view, appropriate techniques and methods have thereforebeen developed and implemented such as, for example, the impedance plane shift method, or autointerferometry.The parametric study, conducted on a pressure range extended over several decades (10-4 - 10Torr) and power ratings from one to several hundred watts, led to a thorough investigation of the coupling type(capacitive, inductive, resistive ) which is highly dependent on the discharge characteristics and thus of theoperating parameters. Their correlation, combined with the analysis of propagation modes in a magnetizedplasma, has helped locate more accurately the areas of coupling and to identify the main power absorptionmechanisms involved. The main results obtained for the two frequencies confirm a better production efficiencyof charged species at a higher frequency (2450 MHz), the presence of a more substantial hot electron populationand a spatial expansion of the plasma when the frequency is low (352 MHz). As the solid state 352 MHztechnology is more advantageous compared to that at 2450 MHz from the viewpoint of the cost of thecomponents, it could be interesting for processes aiming to produce active chemical species. However itsinefficient coupling, of capacitive type induced by frequency reduction, requires an increased attention at thelevel of coupler configuration. For upstream development of couplers, the analytical models and theexperimental results obtained in this thesis should be a key tool in the design of high-performance microwaveplasma sources.