Electron Collision Cross Sections Derived from Critically Assessed Data

Published

July 1, 1999

Author(s)

Loucas G. Christophorou, James K. Olthoff

Abstract

Electron-molecule collisions are among the most fundamental processes in gas discharges. They are also the precursors of the ions and the radicals which drive the etch, cleaning, or deposition processes in plasma reactors. Hence, there is a need for a quantitative understanding of the fundamental electron collision processes in terms of cross sections. Unfortunately, cross sections for critical electron-collision processes often are not known. In this paper cross sections are reported for indirect (resonance enhanced) electron-impact vibrational excitation of the plasma processing gases CF₄ and Cl₂, and for total electron scattering for CF₄ below difference} 1 eV. None of these cross sections are presently known from direct measurements. Their determination was made by a critical assessment of other electron collision cross sections for these molecules. Also reported are swarm-adjusted electron-beam attachment cross sections for Cl₂.

Proceedings Title

Proc. XXIV Intl. Conf. on the Physics of Ionized Gases (ICPIG)

Volume

1

Conference Dates

July 11-16, 1999

Conference Location

Warsaw, 1, PL

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

CF₄, Cl₂, cross sections, dissociative attachment, electron scattering, vibrational excitation

Citation

Christophorou, L. and Olthoff, J. (1999), Electron Collision Cross Sections Derived from Critically Assessed Data, Proc. XXIV Intl. Conf. on the Physics of Ionized Gases (ICPIG), Warsaw, 1, PL, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=4991 (Accessed April 18, 2025)