Sputtering system and method using a loose granular sputtering target

1. A sputtering system comprising

a sputtering source having a sputtering medium;

a sputtering target positioned so as to be impinged upon by the sputtering medium of the sputtering source, wherein the sputtering target comprises a mass of a first loose granular material wherein each granule has a longest dimension from about 3 millimeters to about 6 millimeters; and

an open-top vessel in which the mass of the first loose granular material of the sputtering target is received and positioned so that the first loose granular material does not fall out of the open-top vessel by gravity.

2. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the sputtering source is an ion beam sputtering source.

3. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the first loose granular material comprises a pure material.

4. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the first loose granular material comprises a prealloyed alloy material.

5. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the first loose granular material comprises a non-prealloyed alloy material.

6. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the first loose granular material is fully solid.

7. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the open-top vessel is cooled.

8. The sputtering system of claim 1 , wherein the open-top vessel is water cooled.

9. The sputtering system of claim 1 , further including

a deposition substrate positioned such that sputtered first loose granular material from the open-top vessel is deposited upon the deposition substrate.

10. The sputtering system of claim 1 , further including

a vacuum enclosure having an interior in which the sputtering source, the sputtering target, and the open-top vessel are received, and

a vacuum pump operable to evacuate the interior of the vacuum enclosure.

11. The sputtering system of claim 1 , further including

a vacuum enclosure having an interior in which the sputtering source, the sputtering target, and the open-top vessel are received,

a vacuum pump operable to evacuate the interior of the vacuum enclosure, and

a source of a second loose granular material positioned to controllably add a quantity of the second loose granular material to the mass of the first loose granular material in the open-top vessel, without opening the vacuum enclosure.

12. A method for performing sputtering, comprising the steps of providing a sputtering system comprising

a sputtering source having a sputtering medium,

a sputtering target positioned so as to be impinged upon by the sputtering medium of the sputtering source, wherein the sputtering target comprises a mass of a first loose granular material and wherein each granule has a longest dimension from about 3 millimeters to about 6 millimeters; and

a cooled open-top vessel in which the mass of the first loose granular material of the sputtering target is received and positioned so that the first loose granular material does not fall out of the open-top vessel by gravity; thereafter

sputtering some of the first loose granular material from the sputtering target; thereafter

adding a quantity of a second loose granular material to the mass of the first loose granular material in the open-top vessel; and thereafter

sputtering some of the second loose granular material from the sputtering target.

13. The sputtering system of claim 12 , wherein the sputtering source is an ion beam sputtering source.

14. The sputtering system of claim 12 , wherein the first loose granular material comprises a prealloyed alloy material.

15. The sputtering system of claim 12 , further including

a deposition substrate positioned such that sputtered first loose granular material from the open-top vessel is deposited upon the deposition substrate.

16. The sputtering system of claim 12 , further including

a vacuum enclosure having an interior in which the sputtering source, the sputtering target, and the open-top vessel are received, and

a vacuum pump operable to evacuate the interior of the vacuum enclosure.

17. A sputtering system comprising

a sputtering source having a sputtering medium;

a sputtering target positioned so as to be impinged upon by the sputtering medium of the sputtering source, wherein the sputtering target comprises a mass of a first loose granular material and wherein each granule has a longest dimension from about 3 millimeters to about 6 millimeters;

an open-top vessel in which the mass of the first loose granular material of the sputtering target is received and positioned so that the first loose granular material does not fall out of the open-top vessel by gravity; and

means for affecting the path and/or trajectory of the sputtering medium.

18. The sputtering system of claim 17 wherein said means for affecting the path of the sputtering medium is a controllable magnetic field source.

19. The sputtering system of claim 18 further including means for controlling the sputtering environment at a top of said vessel.

20. The sputtering system of claim 19 wherein said means for controlling the sputtering environment at a top of said vessel is said controllable magnetic field source.

21. The sputtering system of claim 17 further including means for controlling the sputtering environment at a top of said vessel.

22. The sputtering system of claim 21 wherein said means for controlling the sputtering environment at a top of said vessel is a controllable magnetic field source.

23. A sputtering system comprising

a sputtering source having a sputtering medium;

a sputtering target positioned so as to be impinged upon by the sputtering medium of the sputtering source, wherein the sputtering target comprises a mass of a first loose granular material and wherein each granule has a longest dimension from about 3 millimeters to about 6 millimeters;

an open-top vessel in which the mass of the first loose granular material of the sputtering target is received and positioned so that the first loose granular material does not fall out of the open-top vessel by gravity; and

means for adding a quantity of a second loose granular material to the mass of the first loose granular material in the open-top vessel during a sputtering operation.