Patent ID: 7094316

Claim:
A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece, said plasma reactor comprising: an enclosure; a workpiece support within the enclosure facing an overlying portion of the enclosure, said workpiece support the overlying portion of said enclosure defining a process region therebetween extending generally across the diameter of said workpiece support; said enclosure having at least first and second openings therethrough near generally opposite sides of said workpiece support; at least one hollow conduit outside of said process region and connected to said first and second openings, providing a first torroidal path extending through said conduit and across said process region; a first coil antenna adapted to accept RF power, and inductively coupled to the interior of said hollow conduit and capable of maintaining a plasma in said torroidal path; and wherein said hollow conduit comprises a plenum extending around an axis of symmetry of said chamber and wherein said first and second openings are comprised within a continuous opening in said enclosure extending around the axis of symmetry of said chamber.