Patent ID: 8262844

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus comprising: a processing vessel accommodating a target object; a microwave generator configured to generate a microwave; a waveguide configured to induce the microwave generated by the microwave generator to the processing vessel; a planar antenna made of a conductive material and having a plurality of microwave radiation holes through which the microwave induced to the waveguide is radiated toward the processing vessel; a microwave transmission plate made of a dielectric material and configured to serve as a ceiling wall of the processing vessel and transmit the microwave passed from the microwave radiation holes of the planar antenna; a processing gas inlet unit configured to introduce a processing gas into the processing vessel; a magnetic field generating unit positioned above the planar antenna and configured to generate a magnetic field within the processing vessel and control a property of plasma of the processing gas by the magnetic field, the plasma being generated by the microwave within the processing vessel; and a first moving unit configured to move the magnetic field generating unit in a first direction that is transverse to a second direction oriented toward or away from the processing vessel.