The Experimental Cloud Lidar Pilot Study (ECLIPS) was initiated to obtain statistics on cloud-base height, extinction, optical depth, cloud brokenness, and surface fluxes. Two observational phases have taken place, in October-December 1989 and April-July 1991, with intensive 30-day periods being selected within the two time intervals. Data are being archived at NASA Langley Research Center and, once there, are readily available to the international scientific community. This article describes the scale of the study in terms of its international involvement and in the range of data being recorded. Lidar observations of cloud height and backscatter coefficient have been taken from a number of ground-based stations spread around the globe. Solar shortwave and infrared longwave fluxes and infra-red beam radiance have been measured at the surface wherever possible. The observations have been tailored to occur around the overpass times of the NOAA weather satellites. This article describes in some detail the various retrieval methods used to obtain results on cloud-base height, extinction coefficient, and infrared emittance, paying particular attention to the uncertainties involved. The above methods are then illustrated by both model simulations and by selected results from various laboratories. The ECLIPS data are shown to represent a valuable resource for cloud parameter-izations in models and for model validations.

In modeling direct current (dc) discharges, such as dc magnetrons, a current-limiting device is often neglected. In this study, it is shown that an external circuit consisting of a voltage source and a resistor is inevitable in calculating the correct cathode current. Avoiding the external circuit can cause the current to converge (if at all) to a wrong volt-ampere regime. The importance of this external circuit is studied by comparing the results with those of a model without current-limiting device. For this purpose, a 2d3v particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions model was applied to calculate discharge characteristics, such as cathode potential and current, particle fluxes and densities, and potential distribution in the plasma. It is shown that the calculated cathode current is several orders of magnitude lower when an external circuit is omitted, leading to lower charged particle fluxes and densities, and a wider plasma sheath. Also, it was shown, that only simulations with external circuit can bring the cathode current into a certain plasma regime, which has its own typical properties. In this work, the normal and abnormal regimes were studied.

In dc magnetrons the electrons emitted from the cathode may return there due to the applied magnetic field. When that happens, they can be recaptured or reflected back into the discharge, depending on the value of the reflection coefficient (RC). A 2d3v (two-dimensional in coordinate and three-dimensional in velocity space) particle-in-cell-Monte Carlo model, including an external circuit, is developed to determine the role of the electron recapture in the discharge processes. The detailed discharge structure as a function of RC for two pressures (4 and 25 mtorr) is studied. The importance of electron recapture is clearly manifested, especially at low pressures. The results indicate that the discharge characteristics are dramatically changed with varying RC between 0 and 1. Thus, the electron recapture at the cathode appears to be a significant mechanism in magnetron discharges and RC a very important parameter in their correct quantitative description that should be dealt with cautiously.

In this paper, some modelling approaches to describe direct current (dc) magnetron discharges developed in our research groups will be presented, including an analytical model, Monte Carlo simulations for the electrons and for the sputtered atoms, a hybrid Monte Carlo-fluid model and particle-in-cell-Monte Carlo collision simulations. The strengths and limitations of the various modelling approaches will be explained, and some characteristic simulation results will be illustrated. Furthermore, some other simulation methods related to the magnetron device will be briefly explained, more specifically for calculating the magnetic field distribution inside the discharge, and for describing the (reactive) sputtering.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a thin film deposition technique that is based on alternating and saturating surface reactions of two or more gaseous precursors. The excellent conformality of ALD thin films can be exploited for sealing defects in coatings made by other techniques. Here the corrosion protection properties of hard CrN and diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on low alloy steel were improved by ALD sealing with 50 nm thick layers consisting of Al2O3 and Ta2O5 nanolaminates or mixtures. In cross sectional images the ALD layers were found to follow the surface morphology of the CrN coatings uniformly. Furthermore, ALD growth into the pinholes of the CrN coating was verified. In electrochemical measurements the ALD sealing was found to decrease the current density of the CrN coated steel by over 2 orders of magnitude. The neutral salt spray (NSS) durability was also improved: on the best samples the appearance of corrosion spots was delayed from 2 to 168 h. On DLC coatings the adhesion of the ALD sealing layers was weaker, but still clear improvement in NSS durability was achieved indicating sealing of the pinholes.

Summary: A 2d3v numerical model of a DC sputter magnetron is presented. The model is fully self‐consistent and kinetic. Based on the Particle‐in‐Cell/Monte Carlo Collisions technique it includes modules for the gas heating and the diffusion transport of the sputtered atoms. An external electric circuit is incorporated to achieve the calculation of the cathode voltage in a self‐consistent manner, as well as the simulation of the constant current regime. The model is applied to a laboratory magnetron operated in argon.Calculated distribution of the electric potential, V, at p = 10 mTorr. The white line corresponds to V = 0 V.imageCalculated distribution of the electric potential, V, at p = 10 mTorr. The white line corresponds to V = 0 V.

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The outlines of two methods for numerical simulation -hybrid and PIC/MCC of DC magnetrons are presented. Typical results from both of them are shown and compared. The hybrid model is faster, but has limited validity range. The PIC/MCC model, on the other hand, is stable for all operational conditions and does not require any assumptions, but is computationally expensive.