Patent Description:
Patent Document <NUM> discloses a high frequency reaction processing apparatus in which a propagation line of high frequency waves is formed so as to return in a loop by a cylindrical or spherical dielectric container. The high frequency reaction processing apparatus comprises an outer container formed of a dielectric and an inner container formed of a dielectric disposed inside the outer container, and the high frequency wave coupling portions are provided on outer surface of the outer container, and a covering portion of the conductor which is kept at a ground potential is provided on the other outer surface portion.

The high frequency reaction processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> can have a large number of strong electric field points due to evanescent surface waves in the reaction processing region inside the inner container. Further, it is possible to propagate the electromagnetic wave from the high frequency waveguide line to the direction of the infinitely long dielectric propagation line, it can configure a large infinitely long dielectric transmission line with a large area. Further examples of prior art high frequency reaction processing systems using microwaves are disclosed in Patent documents <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the high frequency reaction processing apparatus described in Patent document <NUM>, an infinitely long dielectric propagation line is configured. The infinitely long dielectric propagation line refers to a high frequency wave propagation line that returns in a loop by a cylindrical or spherical dielectric container. Then, by propagating the electromagnetic wave from the high frequency waveguide line to the direction of the infinitely long dielectric propagation line, evanescent waves are generated and propagated continuously inside the inner container, the supplied energy of the high frequency wave is absorbed by the load inside the inner container.

However, when a load inside the inner container to be subjected to the reaction has poor absorption efficiency, energy of the high frequency is not efficiently absorbed by the internal load. Then, a part of the energy of the electromagnetic wave that continuously returns and passes through the infinitely long dielectric propagation line by the outer container in a loop is absorbed by the dielectric loss of the dielectric material, and a part of the loss is consumed as heat loss.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a high frequency reaction processing apparatus and a high frequency reaction processing system capable of reducing a loss of energy of an electromagnetic wave continuously returning to and passing through a propagation line in a loop.

Therefore, according to the invention, there is provided a high frequency reaction processing system according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce a loss of energy of an electromagnetic wave continuously returning to and passing through a propagation line in a loop.

<FIG> are respectively a plan cross-sectional view and a front cross-sectional view on y1-y2 of the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> comprises a dielectric outer container <NUM> (outer container), a covering conductor <NUM> (covering portion), high frequency wave coupling portions <NUM>, a dielectric inner container <NUM> (inner container) and vacuum container walls <NUM> (lid portions). The dielectric outer container <NUM> is configured of a fluororesin film layer <NUM> and a quartz tube <NUM>. The dielectric inner container <NUM> is configured of a quartz tube <NUM>. The high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM> is provided at any position of the outer surface of the covering conductor <NUM>. A plurality of high frequency wave coupling portions <NUM> may be provided for one covering conductor <NUM>.

The dielectric inner container <NUM> is made of a dielectric material and is provided at a position for receiving a high frequency wave traveling through the high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM> without contacting the inner side face of the dielectric outer container <NUM>. The dielectric inner container <NUM> has an inner cavity (inner space) closed by two end faces formed by vacuum container walls <NUM>. A plurality of dielectric inner containers <NUM> may be provided for one outer container. The high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> performs reaction processing by electromagnetic waves guided from the high frequency wave coupling portions <NUM> in the inner cavity of the dielectric inner container <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> can configure a discharge portion of a high frequency plasma apparatus. y1-y2 represents a center line parallel to high frequency waveguides (hereinafter, the same). <FIG> is an enlarged front cross-sectional view of the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

The dielectric outer container <NUM> is made of a dielectric material, and its inner cavity (inner space) is closed by two end faces configured of vacuum container walls <NUM> (lid portions). The covering conductor <NUM> is made of a conductive material to form a spatial region <NUM> with the outer surface of the dielectric outer container <NUM> and is kept at the same potential as the ground potential of the high frequency waveguide. Thus, although evanescent wave is generated by the dielectric outer container <NUM> on the inside of the covering conductor <NUM> serving as a waveguide, the absorption of electromagnetic waves by the dielectric outer container <NUM> is suppressed by providing the spatial region <NUM> between the covering conductor <NUM> and the dielectric outer container <NUM> to improve the processing efficiency.

The spatial region <NUM> is preferably formed by separating <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or more <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or less of the traveling high frequency wave between the inner surface of the covering conductor <NUM> and the outer surface of the dielectric outer container <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to provide the dielectric inner container <NUM> at a position of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength from the inner side face of the covering conductor <NUM>, which is corresponding to the peak of the evanescent wave, and to improve the processing efficiency.

The vacuum container walls <NUM> are formed on the respective end faces of the dielectric inner container <NUM>, the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the covering conductor <NUM>. The vacuum container walls <NUM> are configured of conductors kept at the same potential as the ground potential of the high frequency waveguide, to close the inner cavity of the dielectric inner container <NUM> and the dielectric outer container <NUM> at the end faces of the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the dielectric inner container <NUM>. The vacuum container wall <NUM> has a locking portion for holding the dielectric outer container <NUM> apart from the covering conductor <NUM>. Thus, a constant distance can be arranged between the inner surface of the covering conductor <NUM> and the outer surface of the dielectric outer container <NUM>. The locking portion can be formed, for example, as a groove into which the covering conductor <NUM> is fitted.

As shown in <FIG>, in the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM>, high frequency waves <NUM> are emitted from two microwave oscillating portions and are guided into a vacuum container <NUM> through the high frequency waveguides <NUM>. The vacuum container <NUM> functions as a central part of the discharge portion. The high frequency waveguide <NUM> refers to a propagation line of high frequency wave formed by a waveguide or waveguide and spatial region.

The vacuum container <NUM> is configured of a cylindrical quartz tube <NUM> as the dielectric container <NUM> and the upper and lower aluminum vacuum container walls <NUM> and an aluminum door sample stage <NUM> and sealed for vacuum by O-rings <NUM>. In the vacuum container wall <NUM>, a decompression exhaust port <NUM> is provided for exhausting gas and reducing pressure. A gas for generating plasma is introduced from a process gas inlet <NUM> while the flow rate is controlled.

The process up to the plasma generation using the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> configured as described above is outlined as blow. After the target sample is placed on the door sample stage <NUM> in the atmosphere, the door sample stage <NUM> is raised, and the contact seal connection is made by O-ring at the lower vacuum container wall <NUM>. The vacuum container <NUM> is depressurized, and a predetermined process gas is introduced from the process gas inlet <NUM>. By introducing a high frequency electromagnetic wave along the traveling direction of the high frequency wave <NUM>, a high frequency plasma having a plasma boundary plane <NUM> is generated in the vacuum container <NUM>.

The dielectric outer container <NUM> is configured of a fluororesin film layer <NUM> and a quartz tube <NUM>, and the quartz tube <NUM> is coated on an outer side face with a fluororesin film layer <NUM> The spatial region <NUM> is provided between the outer side face of the fluororesin film layer <NUM> (i.e., the outer surface of the dielectric outer container <NUM>) and the aluminum covering conductor <NUM> is a ground potential, the high frequency waveguide <NUM> is formed by the covering conductor <NUM> and the spatial region <NUM>. The high frequency waveguide <NUM> is a spatial line in the waveguide surrounded by the covering conductor <NUM> which is grounded, and the line according to the waveguide is formed by extending connection to the spatial region <NUM>.

A covering conductor <NUM> is also electrically connected to vacuum container walls <NUM> made of aluminum. In the present embodiment, the dielectric inner container <NUM> is disposed inside and coaxially of the dielectric outer container <NUM> so that the distance from the inner side face of the dielectric inner container <NUM> to the outer side face of a fluororesin film layer <NUM> in the dielectric outer container <NUM> is <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength of the high frequency wave to be guided.

In addition, for the purpose of cooling the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the dielectric inner container <NUM>, a structure is adopted in which a gas or a liquid having a small dielectric constant flows from a cooling medium inlet <NUM> in the vacuum container wall <NUM> on the lower side into a region between the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the dielectric inner container <NUM>, and the gas or the liquid is discharged from a cooling medium outlet <NUM> in the vacuum container wall <NUM> on the upper side.

The high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM> connects the high frequency waveguide <NUM> with the dielectric outer container <NUM>, and the high frequency wave <NUM> propagates along the high frequency waveguide <NUM> via the high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM>. The spatial region <NUM> between the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the aluminum covering conductor <NUM> functions as a high frequency waveguide <NUM>. Although the electric field direction generally varies depending on the electromagnetic wave mode of the high frequency wave <NUM>, in the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM>, the electric field direction is configured so that the electromagnetic wave propagates in the circular tube circumferential direction of the dielectric outer container <NUM>, which is a circular tube, using a TM11 mode. As a result, an infinitely long dielectric propagation line in which the electromagnetic wave returns on the side surface of the circular tube in a loop is formed.

The length of the inner contour in the front cross section of the dielectric outer container <NUM> is designed to be an integral multiple of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength of the high frequency wave to be guided. Thus, the high frequency wave <NUM> which propagates along with the circumferential direction of the dielectric outer container <NUM> as a dielectric propagation line causes a resonance of the propagation line.

Further, the high frequency waveguide <NUM> of cavity by the spatial region between the outer side face of the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the grounded covering conductor <NUM> is formed, and it is possible to reduce the attenuation of high frequency wave in the infinitely long dielectric propagation line to return in a loop. Thus, the electromagnetic wave does not leak outward, and the surface wave forming a leakage electric field are generated widely along the propagation line in the inner radial direction of the dielectric outer container <NUM>. Further, the covering conductor <NUM> is kept at a ground potential. Thus, a large number of points with high electric field is widely generated in a loop at a position of an integer multiple of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength of the surface wave guided into the inside of the conductor surface.

As described above, the position of the inner side face of the dielectric inner container <NUM> configuring the wall surface of the vacuum container <NUM> coincides with the point with the high electric field of the surface wave. Thus, plasma can be generated in the vacuum chamber <NUM> easily and instantaneously from the introduction of the high frequency wave <NUM>.

When plasma is generated, a plasma boundary plane16 is formed inside the dielectric inner container <NUM>. Because the plasma itself has a variable impedance, a part of the surface wave is absorbed by the plasma, and other parts of the surface wave is reflected by the plasma boundary plane <NUM>. The reflected wave repeats alternately reflection and propagation in the region formed by the plasma boundary plane <NUM> via the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the dielectric inner container <NUM> by the covering conductor <NUM>.

The propagation line impedance of the high frequency wave in this region varies in conjunction with the impedance of the plasma. Then, this region forms a matching circuit of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength impedance transformer. Thus, resonance occurs in conjunction with the plasma. As a result, impedance matching between the propagation line and the plasma load is achieved, and eventually electromagnetic wave energy is efficiently absorbed into the plasma load.

Further, with an increase in the introduced power, the plasma density increases and the plasma boundary plane <NUM> begins to have a property close to the conductor. Then, even if the reflection standing wave in the propagation line of the <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength impedance transformer is increased, a capacitance property of the propagation line is increased to form a parallel resonant circuit as a whole. Therefore, the increase of the reflection standing wave works in the direction to increase the current value for the plasma load, and the plasma ionization efficiency increases. Thus, no reflected wave is returned to the high frequency waveguide <NUM>, the non-reflection state is realized when the load is viewed from the oscillation side.

Further, the vacuum container <NUM> functions as a cylindrical cavity resonator when there is no plasma load as a whole and functions as a dielectric resonator when there is a plasma load. Therefore, power can be efficiently absorbed in the load.

As shown in <FIG>, even when high frequency waves <NUM> are guided from a plurality of high frequency waveguide <NUM>, the standing wave is confined in an area corresponding to the matching circuit of the <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength impedance transformer. Thus, a plurality of oscillating portions can inject power into the load without interfering with each other, and thereby a large power is obtained for the apparatus.

Here, specific dimensions and capacities of the high frequency reaction processing apparatus of the present embodiment are shown as an example. The frequency of the high frequency wave <NUM> is <NUM>, the electromagnetic wave mode thereof is TM11 mode, and the maximal power thereof is 1kW. The high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM> connects to the dielectric outer container <NUM> at the opening of the width <NUM> height <NUM>. A quartz tube <NUM> having an outer diameter of <NUM>, thick of <NUM> and Z-axis direction length of <NUM> is coated on an outer side face with a fluororesin film layer <NUM> made of PTFE having a thickness of <NUM>, and the dielectric outer container <NUM> is formed by them. The dielectric inner container <NUM> is formed of a quartz tube <NUM> having an outer diameter of <NUM>, thick of <NUM> and Z-axis direction length of <NUM>. The covering conductor <NUM> made of aluminum is formed of an aluminum plate having a thickness of <NUM>. A spatial region of <NUM> is provided between the covering conductor <NUM> made of aluminum and the outer side face of the dielectric outer container <NUM> whose outer side face is coated with the fluororesin film layer <NUM> made of PTFE having a thickness of <NUM>.

The vacuum container wall <NUM> made of aluminum is formed in a disc shape having a thickness of <NUM> and outer diameter of <NUM>, the vacuum container wall on the lower side has a hole of <NUM> diameter at its center, and the hole is closed by the door sample stage. The decompression exhaust port <NUM> is a tube having an inner diameter of <NUM> and an outer diameter of <NUM> inch and is connected to a vacuum pipe from a vacuum pump by a connection joint of O-ring seal. The cooling medium inlet <NUM> is connected with a joint of <NUM>/<NUM> inch gas pipe and supplies dry air at 30psi for cooling.

In the present embodiment, the process gas inlet <NUM> and the decompression exhaust port <NUM> are provided in the same vacuum container wall <NUM>, but they may be provided separately on the opposing vacuum container walls <NUM>.

A test example of plasma generation in the present embodiment is described below. A high frequency reaction processing apparatus according to the above configuration example was used. As the vacuum condition, the pressure was set to 13Pa to 1000Pa, and N<NUM>, O<NUM> and a mixed gas thereof were used. The gas flow rate was 50cc/min to 300cc/min. As microwave power, <NUM> units were supplied for 50W to 1000W per unit. As for the vacuum pump system, a rotary pump with pumping quantity <NUM>/min was used. The degree of vacuum was measured by a pirani vacuum gauge on a vacuum exhaust line. The pressure was adjusted by adjusting the opening and closing of the manual switching valve on the vacuum exhaust line. The plasma discharge was obtained instantaneously from power input under all the above generating conditions. Then, plasma with uniform plasma emission was obtained throughout the vacuum container. Even if continuous operation was performed for <NUM> hours or more, no abnormality was observed in the magnetron oscillating portion.

A test example of the processing efficiency in the present embodiment is described below. As a sample, an organic photoresist having a thickness of <NUM> coated on a silicon substrate having an area of <NUM><NUM> was used to test the stripping rate. As process conditions, the substrate temperature was set to room temperature, the microwave power was set to 500W, the process gas was set to oxygen (<NUM> cc/min), the process pressure was set to 150Pa, and the process time was set to <NUM> seconds. In the high frequency reaction processing apparatus of the present example, the photoresist stripping rate was <NUM>/min. This is a result of <NUM>% over the prior art. In the conventional high frequency reaction processing apparatus as a comparative example, it was different only that the inner diameter of the covering conductor made of aluminum coincided with the outer diameter of the dielectric outer container not to provide a spatial region, and other conditions were the same. The substrate temperature after the process was measured to be about <NUM>° C, and the organic matter stripping could be performed at high speed without increasing the substrate temperature.

In the case of using an ordinary organic matter stripping apparatus using oxygen microwave plasma, the stripping rate increases as the substrate temperature rises. In the case, unless the temperature of the substrate is raised to more than <NUM> degrees, which is the glass transition point of the organic resist film, a stripping rate of <NUM>/min or more cannot be obtained. The reason why the substrate temperature did not rise and the stripping speed is high in the high frequency reaction processing apparatus of the present example can be determined to be that the high-density excited plasma was generated in the plasma boundary plane <NUM> in the vicinity of the inner wall part of the dielectric inner container <NUM> and that a large amount of oxygen radicals were generated.

In the above embodiment, when the load inside the inner container is a decompression plasma discharge, the plasma discharge body diffuses to the entire inner container, the gas introducing portion and the decompression pipe portion. Since the plasma discharge body is a conductor, the high frequency wave propagates in the plasma discharge body and also to the decompression seal portion in the outer end face of the inner container. Then, as a result of that the high frequency wave is absorbed by the sealing material having a dielectric loss, the sealing material is deteriorated by heat, and eventually the hermetic seal is deteriorated. In addition, absorption of ultraviolet ray by luminescence radiation of the plasma discharge body and heat generated thereby also provide affection. It is a subject matter to cut off the vacuum ultraviolet ray by electroluminescence and the electromagnetic wave to the member at the end of the inner container.

<FIG> are respectively a cross-sectional plan view and a cross-sectional front view on y1-y2 of the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> according to the second embodiment. The high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> comprises a dielectric outer container <NUM> (outer container), a covering conductor <NUM> (covering portion), high frequency wave coupling portions <NUM>, a dielectric inner container <NUM> (inner container) and vacuum container walls <NUM> (lid portions). The dielectric outer container <NUM> is configured of a fluororesin film layer <NUM> and a quartz tube <NUM>. The dielectric inner container <NUM> is configured of a quartz tube <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> can constitute a discharge portion of a high frequency plasma apparatus. <FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional front view showing the high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM>.

The vacuum container wall <NUM> comprises a groove <NUM> (fitting groove) for fitting the end of the dielectric inner container <NUM>. The groove <NUM> has a depth with a length of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or more and <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or less of the wavelength of the high frequency wave to be guided and accommodates the end of the dielectric inner container <NUM> without contacting with the side surface of the dielectric inner container <NUM>. Thus, since the electromagnetic wave is choked without entering the groove <NUM>, it is possible to keep a low temperature of the end part of the dielectric inner container <NUM>. The groove <NUM> has a depth of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or more of the wavelength of the high frequency wave to be guided. Thus, the high frequency wave can be choked so as not to lead to the end part of the dielectric inner container <NUM>.

An O-ring <NUM> (seal member) is provided between the dielectric inner container <NUM> and the vacuum container wall <NUM> to seal the inner cavity of the dielectric inner container <NUM>. The O-ring <NUM> is provided at any of the positions accommodated by the groove <NUM>. Thus, the temperature of the O-ring <NUM> for sealing the dielectric inner container <NUM> can be kept low, it is possible to prevent damage to the O-ring <NUM>.

The dielectric inner container <NUM> can be made of alumina. Thus, it is possible to improve the durability against corrosive gas at high temperatures. For example, that is effective in the case of generating plasma in the inner cavity of the dielectric inner container <NUM>. As a result, plasma can be generated with high efficiency.

In the case where the reaction processing of the target material is performed by the electromagnetic wave guided from the high frequency wave coupling portion in the inner cavity of the dielectric inner container <NUM>, it is preferable that the dielectric inner container <NUM> is made of quartz. As a result, it can be applied to decomposition of fluorocarbon and scrubbers.

As in the first embodiment, the vacuum container <NUM> is configured of the cylindrical quartz tube <NUM>, aluminum vacuum container walls <NUM> on the upper and lower sides and an aluminum door sample stage <NUM> and is vacuum-sealed by the O-rings <NUM>. The dielectric inner container <NUM> is configured of a quartz tube <NUM>. The present embodiment is not limited to the modification from the first embodiment and may be a modification from a high frequency reaction processing apparatus without the spatial region.

In the first embodiment, the O-ring <NUM> may be subjected to exposure deterioration due to long-term use of the apparatus and conditions of use due to absorption of leaked electromagnetic waves, heat and plasma discharge vacuum ultraviolet ray from the high frequency plasma having the plasma boundary plane <NUM> generated within the vacuum container <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the grooves <NUM> having a width of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or less and a depth of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or more of the high frequency wave used are respectively formed in the aluminum vacuum container walls <NUM> on the upper and lower sides. Then, the seal parts for both end faces of the cylindrical quartz tube <NUM> are provided inside the groove <NUM>.

This structure chokes the high frequency wave, and the high frequency wave does not leak to the seal part configured in the groove. Further, the vacuum ultraviolet ray of the plasma discharge is shielded by the above groove to suppress the deterioration of the O-ring.

Further, it is preferable that the inside of the aluminum vacuum container walls <NUM> on the upper and lower sides have water cooling structures. Thus, it is also possible to deal with deterioration caused by heat.

As a result, the deterioration of the decompression seal can be suppressed even under severe conditions in continuous high-power high-density plasma generation for a long time, and maintenance-free is realized.

Here, specific dimensions and capacities of the high frequency reaction processing apparatus according to the present embodiment are shown as an example. The frequency of the high frequency wave <NUM> is <NUM>, the electromagnetic wave mode thereof is TM11 mode, and the maximal power thereof is 1kW. The high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM> connects to the dielectric outer container <NUM> at the opening having the width of <NUM> and height of <NUM>. The dielectric outer container <NUM> is formed by a quartz tube <NUM> having an outer diameter of <NUM>, a thickness of <NUM> and Z-axis length of <NUM> and a fluororesin film layer <NUM> made of PTFE having a thickness of <NUM> covering the outer side face of the quartz tube <NUM>.

The dielectric inner container <NUM> is formed by a quartz tube <NUM> having an outer diameter of <NUM>, a thickness of <NUM> and Z-axis direction length of <NUM>. The covering conductor <NUM> made of aluminum is formed by an aluminum plate having a thickness of <NUM>. A spatial region of <NUM> is provided between the outer side face of the aluminum covering conductor <NUM> and the dielectric outer container <NUM>.

The vacuum container wall <NUM> made of aluminum is a disc-shaped member having a thickness of <NUM> and outer diameter of <NUM> and is water-cooled with a water-cooling channel. Further, the groove <NUM> is formed with an outer diameter of <NUM>, inner diameter of <NUM> and depth of <NUM>.

The vacuum container wall on the lower side has a hole with a diameter of <NUM> in the center, and the hole is closed by the door sample stage. The decompression exhaust port <NUM> is a tube having an inner diameter of <NUM> and an outer diameter of <NUM> inch and is connected to a vacuum pipe from the vacuum pump by a connection joint having an O-ring seal. The cooling medium inlet <NUM> is connected to a <NUM>/<NUM> inch gas pipe joint, and dry air for cooling is supplied at 30psi in use of the inlet.

A test example of continuous plasma generation in the present embodiment is described below. As the vacuum condition, the pressure is 130Pa, and the used gas is N<NUM> gas. As microwave power, two units were provided for 1000W per unit. As the vacuum pumping system, a rotary pump for the pumping quantity <NUM>/min was used. Vacuum was measured by a pirani vacuum gauge on a vacuum exhaust line, and pressure was adjusted by opening and closing adjustment of a manual switching valve on the vacuum exhaust line. Under all of the above conditions, plasma discharge was obtained instantaneously from power-on and plasma which produced plasma emission uniform throughout the vacuum container was obtained. In addition, even if continuous operation is performed for <NUM> hours or longer, no problem occurs in the vacuum seal, and no deterioration was observed in the clear silicone O-ring having a hardness of <NUM> degrees used as the seal O-ring.

In the present embodiment, a process gas inlet <NUM> and a decompression exhaust port <NUM> are provided in the same vacuum container wall <NUM>, but they may be provided separately in the vacuum container walls <NUM> facing each other.

In the present embodiment, the O-ring <NUM> is provided at the bottom of the groove <NUM> and configures a seal portion at the end face of the quartz tube <NUM> but may configure a seal portion on the outer side face or the inner side face near the end face of the quartz tube <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, it is possible to realize the input of a large output for a load with a large volume and large area by increasing the diameter of the inner container and coupling a plurality of the high frequency wave coupling portions to the same load. However, since the curvature of the side surface of the inner container becomes constant or more to planarize the side surface by increasing the diameter of the inner container, it become difficult to make an infinitely long dielectric propagation line that the high frequency propagation line is returned in a loop with the dielectric container. Especially, a measure becomes necessary in the application to the decompression plasma reaction processing apparatus which requires the processing in large area.

<FIG> are respectively a cross-sectional plan view and a cross-sectional front view on y1-y2 of the high frequency reaction processing system <NUM> according to the third embodiment. The high frequency reaction processing system <NUM> comprises a plurality of high frequency reaction processing apparatuses <NUM> and a single downflow processing chamber container <NUM>. The high frequency reaction processing apparatus <NUM> comprises a dielectric outer container <NUM> (outer container), a covering conductor <NUM> (covering portion), high frequency wave coupling portions <NUM>, a dielectric inner container <NUM> (inner container) and vacuum container walls <NUM> (lid portions). The plurality of high frequency reaction processing apparatuses <NUM> are formed in the same shape, arranged centrally symmetrically, and share the vacuum container walls <NUM> with each other. Thus, it is possible to perform the high frequency reaction process in a well-balanced arrangement.

The dielectric outer container <NUM> is configured of a fluororesin film layer <NUM> and a quartz tube <NUM>. The dielectric inner container <NUM> is configured of a quartz tube <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the high frequency reaction processing system <NUM> can configure a discharge portion of the high frequency plasma apparatus.

The downflow processing chamber container <NUM> is connected to the inner cavity (inner space) of the dielectric inner container <NUM> via one end face of the dielectric inner container <NUM> in each of the plurality of high frequency reaction processing apparatuses <NUM>. Thus, a processing reaction with a large output can be expanded to a large area.

The outer containers in the plurality of the high frequency reaction processing apparatuses <NUM> are cylindrical, and the curvature radiuses of the cylindrical outer containers are <NUM> or less. Thus, since it is possible to reduce the curvature radius, the electromagnetic wave can be kept travelling.

The present embodiment is a modification from the first embodiment and aims at processing substrates of the large diameter. Then, the present embodiment has high efficiency and easily realizes a processing apparatus of a large diameter when a plurality of high frequency waves is guided to the same load. The present embodiment is not limited to the modification from the first embodiment and may be a modification from a high frequency reaction processing apparatus without a spatial region or may be a modification from the second embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, three vacuum containers <NUM> serving as the center of the plasma discharge portion are configured of three cylindrical quartz tubes <NUM> and a pair of aluminum vacuum container walls <NUM> on the upper and lower sides. The quartz tube <NUM> configures a dielectric inner container <NUM>. The vacuum container <NUM> is connected to the downflow processing chamber container <NUM> with a large diameter in the lower aluminum vacuum container wall, and thereby the entire vacuum container is configured.

The high frequency plasma formed in each of the three vacuum containers <NUM> has a plasma boundary plane <NUM> and is separated from the downflow processing chamber container <NUM> by a porous conductor plate <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a high frequency reaction processing system is used as a plasma source of a plasma radical down-flow processing apparatus.

The process to the radical surface processing by the plasma radical down flow processing apparatus is outlined as below. First, a target sample is carried into the sample table <NUM> in the downflow processing chamber container <NUM> from the door <NUM>. After the door is closed, gas is exhausted from the decompression exhaust port <NUM>, the pressure is reduced, and the gas for plasma generation is introduced in equal distribution while the flow rate from the three process gas inlets <NUM> is controlled.

Plasma is formed in each of the vacuum containers <NUM> by supply of high frequency waves <NUM> from three oscillation sources. The generated reaction active species is transferred to the downflow processing chamber container <NUM> which is in a decompression direction through the hole portions of the porous conductor plate <NUM>, and the radical surface reaction processing is performed on the sample.

The configuration of the vacuum container <NUM> serving as the central part of the discharge portion is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the decompression exhaust port. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, there is one high frequency waveguide <NUM> but may be a plurality.

Here, specific dimensions and capacities of the high frequency reaction processing system according to the present embodiment are shown as an example. The frequencies of the high frequency waves <NUM> of the three oscillation sources are <NUM>, their electromagnetic wave mode is TM11 mode, and their maximal power is 1kW. The high frequency wave coupling portion <NUM> connects to the dielectric outer container <NUM> at the opening with the width of <NUM> and height of <NUM>. The dielectric outer container <NUM> is formed by a quartz tube <NUM> and a PTFE fluororesin film layer <NUM> having a thickness of <NUM> covering the outer side face of the quartz tube <NUM> having an outer diameter of <NUM>, a thickness of <NUM> and a Z-axis length of <NUM>. The dielectric inner container <NUM> is formed of a quartz tube <NUM> having an outer diameter of <NUM>, a thickness of <NUM> and a Z-axis direction length of <NUM>. The covering conductor <NUM> made of aluminum is formed by cutting from an integral aluminum block, includes three vacuum containers <NUM>, and is cooled by a water-cooling channel provided therein.

The vacuum container wall <NUM> made of aluminum is obtained by processing a plate having a thickness of <NUM> outer diameter of <NUM>. The aluminum vacuum container wall <NUM> has three holes arranged at equal angles of P. D600φ from the center of the integral vacuum container wall on the lower side and is connected to the aluminum downflow processing chamber container <NUM> by an O-ring seal. Three porous conductor plates <NUM> are provided at hole positions having a diameter of <NUM> at an angular arrangement equal to P. D600φ from the center of the vacuum container wall on the lower side. Each of the porous conductor plate <NUM> is made of stainless steel and is formed in a mesh shape having a porosity of <NUM>% with a thickness of <NUM> and a diameter of <NUM>. Each of the porous conductor plate <NUM> separates the plasma formed in the region of the vacuum container <NUM> between the vacuum container <NUM> and the downflow processing chamber container <NUM>. The decompression exhaust port <NUM> is a NW40 bore pipe as a vacuum pipe and is connected to the vacuum pipe from the vacuum pump by a connection joint having an O-ring seal.

To the high frequency waveguide <NUM>, the gas pipe joint with <NUM>/<NUM> inch as the cooling medium inlet is connected. The cooling medium inlet is supplied with dry air at 30psi for cooling.

In the present embodiment, the operating conditions and impedance matching of the ionizing plasma discharges shown in <FIG> are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Thus, a high-performance processing apparatus is realized by mounting the high-efficiency plasma generating source having the high frequency waveguide <NUM> with a small curvature to the plurality-type identical processing load.

Although quartz is used as a structural material of the dielectric inner container <NUM> in the above embodiment, other dielectric with low dielectric constant can be used. For example, any alumina-based ceramic can be used. Further, as the dielectric outer container <NUM> all the dielectric with low dielectric constant can be used. Further, the dielectric outer container <NUM> may be formed by laminating a plurality of dielectric layers of different materials.

In addition, in the above embodiments, the fluororesin film layer <NUM> made of PTFE that coats the outer side face of the quartz tube <NUM> is used in the dielectric outer container <NUM>, but a fluororesin having a depletion layer may be used. In this case, the performance of the dielectric propagation line can be improved by selecting an appropriate depletion rate to adjust the dielectric constant of the fluororesin layer. Alternatively, a thin mica may be coated on the outer side face of the quartz tube <NUM> in a layered structure. Also, porous ceramics can be used as the dielectric outer container <NUM> for the same purpose.

Further, in the above embodiments, two high frequency wave coupling portions <NUM> are provided and arranged symmetrically for the cylindrical axis center, but one or three or more high frequency wave coupling portions around the cylindrical axis may be provided, and further a plurality may be provided in the cylindrical axial direction.

In the above embodiments, all of the dielectric inner container <NUM>, the dielectric outer container <NUM> and the covering conductor <NUM> are formed in a cylindrical shape, but they may be formed in an elliptical cylindrical shape. Further, in the dielectric inner container <NUM> of the above embodiments, the end face is open, but it may be formed also by closing the upper and lower end faces other than the inlet and outlet of the gas. The dielectric inner container <NUM> of such a shape is preferably made of quartz than alumina in considering ease of manufacture.

Claim 1:
A high frequency reaction processing apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
an outer container (<NUM>) made of a dielectric material and having an inner cavity capable of being closed by two end faces,
a covering portion (<NUM>) made of a conductive material and kept at the same potential as ground potential of a high frequency waveguide (<NUM>),
at least one high frequency wave coupling portion (<NUM>) provided at any position of an outer surface of the covering portion, and
at least one inner container (<NUM>) made of a dielectric material, provided at a position for receiving a high frequency wave travelling through the high frequency wave coupling portion without touching an inner side face of the outer container (<NUM>) and having an inner cavity capable of being closed by two end faces,
a lid portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) made of conductor kept at the same potential as ground potential of the high frequency waveguide, the lid portion closing the inner cavity of the inner container at an end face of the inner container,
wherein the lid portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) has a fitting groove (<NUM>) for fitting an end part of the inner container (<NUM>), and the apparatus is configured to perform a reaction process by electromagnetic waves guided from the high frequency wave coupling portion (<NUM>) in the inner cavity of the inner container (<NUM>), characterised in that
the fitting groove (<NUM>) has a depth with a length of <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or more and <NUM>/<NUM> wavelength or less of the guided high frequency wave and accommodates an end part of the inner container (<NUM>) without contacting a side surface of the inner container (<NUM>).