Patent ID: 7122479

Claim:
An etching processing method using an etching processing apparatus comprising a vacuum vessel, a sample stage disposed in the vacuum vessel, a gas introduction device for introducing a reaction gas into the vacuum vessel, a power supply of an electric field for generating a plasma in the vacuum vessel, and a high frequency power supply for supplying a bias power to a sample loaded on the sample stage, wherein the sample has on a surface thereof a layer of an inorganic insulation material of low dielectric constant which has an elemental constitution of SiOC or SiOCH, and a layer of a photoresist as a mask overlying the layer of the inorganic insulation material, the method comprising the steps of: supplying bias power to the sample at 3 W/cm 2 or less, and introducing, via the gas introduction device, a gas primarily containing chlorine atoms or bromine atoms to apply etching processing to said layer of said inorganic insulation material of low dielectric constant on the surface of the sample, using said photoresist as said mask.