Patent ID: 7097735

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus, comprising: a processing vessel defined by an outer wall and having a stage for holding a substrate to be processed; an evacuation system coupled to said processing vessel; a plasma gas supplying part provided on said processing vessel as a part of said outer wall so as to face said substrate on said stage, said plasma gas supplying part comprising a shower plate facing said substrate on said stage at a first side thereof, said shower plate having a plasma gas passage and a plurality of apertures communicating with said plasma gas passage, and a cover plate provided on a second side of said shower plate opposite to said first side; a microwave antenna provided on said processing vessel in correspondence to said plasma gas supplying part in an intimate contact with said cover plate; a microwave power source coupled to said microwave antenna electrically; and a contact surface between said microwave antenna and said cover plate of said plasma gas supplying part is sealed in a manner such that a pressure thereof can be adjusted, said microwave antenna being defined by said contact surface forming a microwave radiation surface, said contact surface contacting with said cover plate of said plasma gas supplying part, and an outer surface opposing said contact surface.