Low pressure, low temperature discharge
Depositing nanometric films by radio frequency cathodic sputtering

To create a discharge in a gas between two conductive plates, the electrical rigidity of the medium must be overcome by applying a strong electric field up to an ignition voltage V _b. This potential V _b depends on the gas and the product of pressure × distance between electrodes.

The function V _b= f (p × d) is represented by Paschen curves (Figure1). These curves are unique for each gas since they depend on the ionization ease of the element, and therefore on its specific electronic environment.