Patent ID: 7416633

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus including a vacuum container in which the pressure is reduced, an inner chamber which is arranged in the inside of the vacuum container, a sample stand which is arranged in the inner chamber and on which a sample which constitutes an object to be processed is placed, wherein plasma is formed in a space above the sample stand in the inner chamber so as to process the sample, wherein the inner chamber comprises: an upper side wall which surrounds the space in which the plasma is formed and which contacts with the plasma; a lower side wall inside of which the sample stand is arranged, arranged by way of a space which is defined between the lower side wall and the vacuum container and in which pressure is reduced, a connecting portion between both end surfaces of the upper side wall and the lower side wall, and an atmospheric pressure portion provided at an outer part of the connecting portion connected to the atmosphere for transferring heat therebetween, the plasma processing apparatus further comprising: a heater for heating the upper side wall, a temperature regulation means which regulates a temperature of the lower side wall to a temperature lower than a temperature of the upper side wall through the atmospheric pressure portion; and an impeding means having a vacuum pressure portion provided at an inner part of the connecting portion for impeding heat transfer between the upper side wall and the lower side wall.