Patent ID: 7585386

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma process on a target substrate having a reference circular contour and a reference diameter, the apparatus comprising: a process container configured to accommodate the target substrate and to reduce pressure therein; a first electrode disposed within the process container; a supply system configured to supply a process gas into the process container; an electric field formation system configured to form an RF electric field within the process container so as to generate plasma of the process gas; and a dielectric body disposed on a main surface of the first electrode, wherein the dielectric body includes a first portion defining a flat portion formed at a center of the dielectric body to be concentric with the reference circular contour and having a first diameter not less than 1/10 of the reference diameter and a first constant thickness, and a second portion defining a flat portion formed outside the first portion and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and a second constant thickness smaller than the first constant thickness, so as to imitate an ideal thickness profile of the dielectric body to attain a uniform process characteristic on the target substrate.