Plasma Systems

Plasma Systems

A Gas Plasma may form whenever gas is exposed to an electric field. If the field is sufficiently strong, a high percentage of gas atoms will surrender an electron or two and become ionized. The resultant ionized gas and liberated energetic electrons comprise the gas plasma or plasma. The ionized gas atoms have relatively little kinetic energy unless they are accelerated through an electric field. When accelerated, they will bombard a surface with sufficient force to dislodge loosley or tightly bound materials or Etch the surface. Plasma effects the etching processes by momentum transfer of material. The use of reactive gases produces molecular level chemical modifications as well.