Patent ID: 7138606

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus for processing a specimen disposed within a vacuum chamber by using plasma formed within the vacuum chamber, comprising: a stage which is disposed within the vacuum chamber and which includes a cooling jacket provided at an inside thereof with a path for passing coolant liquid therethrough, and an upper member which is attached on the cooling jacket and has a heater disposed at an inside thereof, the specimen being placed on the upper member, and the plasma being formed in a space above the specimen; a first gap which is disposed at an area on a center portion of the stage between the cooling jacket and the upper member, a second gap which is disposed at an area on an outer peripheral portion of the stage between the cooling jacket and the upper member, each of the first and second gaps being sealed at an inside thereof; and first and second valves for supplying heat transfer gas within each of the first and second gaps, respectively, so as to enable a pressure of the gas supplied within the first gap to be different from a pressure of the gas supplied within the second gap.