Patent ID: 6312555
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A plasma reactor comprising:a chamber wall forming a plasma chamber within which a plasma is produced, the plasma including at least one plasma product for processing;a source of radio frequency power for providing power at a processing frequency;an inductor adjacent to the plasma chamber and coupled to the source of radio frequency power to inductively couple power into the plasma chamber;a gas inlet for providing gas into the plasma chamber;a gas exhaust for exhausting gas from the plasma chamber;a shield positioned between at least a portion of the inductor and at least a portion of the plasma such that the shield reduces capacitive coupling from the inductor to the plasma relative to a level of capacitive coupling that would be present in the absence of the shield; andwherein at least a portion of the shield has a resistivity of less than about 1 .OMEGA.cm and a thickness less than one fourth of the skin depth at the processing frequency such that inductively coupled power from the inductor is coupled through the shield to sustain the plasma.