Method for operating a pulsed arc evaporation source and vacuum process system comprising said pulsed arc evaporation source

1. Vacuum process installation with a vacuum chamber ( 1 ) for the surface working of workpieces ( 3 ) with an arc evaporator source ( 5 ) comprising an anode ( 6 ) and a first electrode ( 5 ′) which forms a target-electrode, and whereas this anode ( 6 ) and the first electrode ( 5 ′) are connected to a DC power supply ( 13 ) and that a second electrode ( 3 , 18 , 20 ) is disposed separately from the arc evaporator source ( 5 ) and the vacuum chamber ( 1 ), characterized in that the two electrodes ( 5 ′, 3 , 18 , 20 ) are connected to a bipolar pulsed power supply ( 16 ) which generates an additional discharge path.

2. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second electrode ( 20 ′) is the cathode of a further arc evaporator source ( 20 ) and such is also connected to a DC power supply ( 13 ′).

3. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second electrode ( 18 ) is the cathode of a sputter source ( 18 ) and such is also connected to a DC-power supply ( 17 ).

4. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second electrode ( 3 ) is implemented as workpiece holder ( 3 ) and, together with the workpieces ( 3 ), forms a bias electrode.

5. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second electrode is an evaporation crucible ( 22 ) which forms the anode of a low-voltage arc evaporator ( 9 , 22 ).

6. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second electrode is an auxiliary electrode which forms an auxiliary anode ( 15 ) for the implementation of a low-voltage arc discharge.

7. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that between the DC power supply ( 13 ) and the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) an electric decoupling filter is disposed, wherein such includes at least one blocking diode.

8. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the DC power supply ( 13 ) outputs a base current for the substantially interruption-free maintenance of a plasma discharge at the sources ( 5 , 18 , 20 ).

9. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the installation includes a reactive gas inlet.

10. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the frequency of the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is in the range of 1 kHz to 200 kHz.

11. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the pulse width ratio of the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is set variably.

12. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the pulse of the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is set such that it is gapped.

13. Installation as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the pulse edges of the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) have slopes greater than 2.0 V/ns.

14. Method for the surface working of workpieces ( 3 ) in a vacuum process installation ( 1 ) with a vacuum chamber in that with a first electrode ( 5 ′) and an anode ( 6 ) of an arc evaporator source ( 5 ) whereas the anode ( 6 ) and the first electrode ( 5 ′) are connected to a DC power supply ( 13 ), the first electrode forming a target electrode, and with a second electrode ( 3 , 18 , 20 ) disposed separated from the arc evaporator source ( 5 ) and the vacuum chamber, a layer is deposited onto the workpiece ( 3 ), wherein the arc evaporator source ( 5 ) is fed with a DC current, characterized in that both electrodes ( 5 ′, 3 , 18 , 20 ) are operated connected to a bipolar pulsed power supply ( 16 ) for generating an additional discharge path.

15. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the second electrode ( 20 ′) is operated as the cathode of a further arc evaporator source ( 20 ) and is also operated connected to a DC power supply ( 13 ′).

16. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the second electrode ( 18 ) is operated as the cathode of a sputter source ( 18 ), and is also operated connected to a DC-power supply.

17. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the second electrode ( 3 ) is implemented as a workpiece holder ( 3 ) and, together with the workpieces ( 3 ), for a bias electrode.

18. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the second electrode is implemented as evaporation crucible ( 22 ) and is operated as the anode of a low-voltage arc evaporator ( 9 , 22 ).

19. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the second electrode is operated as auxiliary electrode which forms an auxiliary anode ( 15 ), for the implementation of a low-voltage arc discharge.

20. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the DC power supply ( 13 ) and the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is coupled with an electrical decoupling filter comprising at least one blocking diode.

21. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the DC power supply ( 13 ) is operated with a base current, such that the plasma discharge at the sources ( 5 , 18 , 20 ) is maintained substantially interruption-free, at the arc evaporator sources ( 5 , 20 ).

22. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the sources ( 5 , 18 , 20 ) are operated with a process gas which comprises a reactive gas.

23. Method as claimed in claim 22 , characterized in that the sources ( 5 , 18 , 20 ) are operated with a process gas which is exclusively a reactive gas.

24. Method as claimed in claim 22 , characterized in that the sources ( 5 , 18 , 20 ) are operated with a process gas in which the reactive gas comprises oxygen.

25. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is operated at a frequency in the range of 1 kHz to 200 kHz.

26. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is operated set with a variable pulse width ratio.

27. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is operated with gapped pulses.

28. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) is operated with pulse edges which have slopes greater than 2.0 V/ns.

29. Method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that more than two electrodes ( 5 , 5 ′, 3 , 18 , 20 ) are operated in the vacuum process installation ( 19 ) which comprises reactive gas, wherein only two electrodes are operated with a single pulsed power supply ( 16 ) and the one of the two electrodes is operated as the first electrode ( 5 ′) of an arc evaporator source ( 5 ).

30. Method as claimed in claim 29 , characterized in that the two pulsed electrodes ( 5 , 5 ′) are operated as arc evaporator sources ( 5 , 20 ) and at least one further electrode is operated as sputter source ( 18 ).

31. Installation as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the pulse edges of the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) have slopes in the range of 0.02V/ns to 2.0 V/ns.

32. Installation as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the pulse edges of the pulsed power supply ( 16 ) have slopes in the range of 0.1 V/ns to 1.0 V/ns.

33. Installation as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the sputter source ( 18 ) is of a magnetron source ( 18 ).