Patent ID: 7419567
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A plasma processing apparatus comprising: a process chamber configured to reduce a pressure therein; a worktable disposed in the process chamber and configured to place a target substrate thereon in an essentially horizontal state, a plasma generation space being defined above and around the worktable within the process chamber, and the plasma generation space including a peripheral plasma region and a main plasma region respectively located outside and inside an outer edge of the target substrate placed on the worktable; a process gas supply section configured to supply a process gas into the plasma generation space; an electric field forming mechanism configured to form an RF electric field within the plasma generation space; and a magnetic field forming mechanism located above and extending concentrically with the peripheral plasma region, and comprising first N-poles, first S-poles, second N-poles, and second S-poles, which are arrayed in a same horizontal level and face downward above the target substrate such that each of the first N-poles, first S-poles, second N-poles, and second S-poles are oriented vertically so as to extend respective magnetic force lines downward therefrom, wherein the first N-poles and the first S-poles are alternately disposed at intervals in a first annular direction outside the outer edge of the target substrate, while the second N-poles and the second S-poles are alternately disposed at intervals in a second annular direction outside the outer edge of the target substrate and inside the first annular direction, to set the peripheral plasma region to have a magnetic field vertically extending as a curtain surrounding the main plasma region and to set the main plasma region to have substantially no magnetic field, and wherein each set of one of the first N-poles and one of the second S-poles is arrayed substantially in a radial direction, and each set of one of the first S-poles and one of the second N-poles is arrayed substantially in a radial direction.