Patent ID: 8349128
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: C23F,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for plasma processing a substrate, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume defined by a chamber ceiling and chamber walls; a substrate support pedestal disposed in the internal volume; an RF power source for forming a plasma within the internal volume of the process chamber; a plasma stabilizer disposed in the internal volume of the process chamber above the pedestal and spaced apart from the chamber ceiling, the plasma stabilizer having a diameter greater than a diameter of the pedestal and separating a first processing region above the plasma stabilizer wherein the plasma is maintained from a second processing region below the plasma stabilizer and above the pedestal, the plasma stabilizer adapted to control the spatial distribution of charged and neutral species of the plasma, wherein the plasma stabilizer further comprises: an edge ring disposed about a perimeter of an upper surface of the substrate support pedestal and having the plurality of support legs extending therefrom.