Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
Stress in dielectric films, including silicon dioxide, borosilicate glass, and silicon nitride, deposited using Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition have been studied. In each case the total stress was found to be strongly dependent on processing conditions. Deposition rates and film characteristics, such as refractive index, -OH content, (in the case of SiO2), total H content, Si-H and N-HI concentration (in the case of nitride), boron concentration (for BSG), have also been determined as fuctions of processing parameters. In addition, the emission spectra from the plasma itself has been studied. Correlations have been established whereever relevant.