Influence of ion assistance on LaF3 films deposited by molybdenum boat evaporation

LaF3 thin films at 193 nm were deposited by the molybdenum boat evaporation with ion-assisted deposition (IAD). Various optical characteristics, stress, and microstructures that formed under different ion-beam voltages of IAD deposition were investigated. The relation between these properties is also discussed. LaF3 films deposited with IAD exhibited small rough surfaces and large optical loss at 193 nm. The largest value of optical loss for films at 193 nm, which were prepared at an ion-beam voltage of 400 V, was 1.55% and the extinction coefficient was smaller than 0.0015. Microstructures and crystalline structures of films were influenced and changed by the ion-assisted deposition process. Tensile stress value of films increased as the ion-beam voltage rose. Refractive index, related to the packing density and microstructures, also increased as the ion-beam voltage rose.