Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma processing chamber, a substrate holder disposed in the chamber, and a radio frequency (RF) electrode disposed within the chamber, an RF power source configured to supply continuous wave RF power having frequency in the very high frequency range to the RF electrode, and a direct current (DC) power source configured to supply continuous wave DC power to the chamber through an RF choke. The DC power is supplied concurrently with the RF power. The RF power source is electrically coupled to the RF electrode through an impedance matching circuit and is separate from the DC power source. The RF electrode may be an upper electrode or a lower electrode, such as the substrate holder. The DC power may be supplied to an upper or lower electrode, or through a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming a carbon hard mask includes generating a radio frequency plasma including carbon-based ions by supplying continuous wave radio frequency power to a plasma processing chamber. The carbon-based ions have a first average ion energy. The method further includes adjusting the first average ion energy of the carbon-based ions to a second average ion energy by supplying continuous wave direct current power to the plasma processing chamber concurrently with the continuous wave radio frequency power and forming a carbon hard mask at a substrate within the plasma processing chamber by delivering the carbon-based ions having the second average ion energy to the substrate.

Abstract: A film forming method forms a film on a substrate by plasma in a processing container including a stage configured to hold the substrate thereon, wherein the film forming method includes: (a) a step of supplying a raw material gas and a reaction gas as a processing gas to the processing container; and (b) a step of generating plasma of the processing gas using a radio-frequency power of 100 MHz or higher.

Abstract: A method of nitridation includes cyclically performing the following steps in situ within a processing chamber at a temperature less than about 400° C.: directing an energy flux to a localized region of an unreactive surface of a substrate to convert the localized region of the unreactive surface to a localized reactive region: and selectively nitridating the localized reactive region using a nitrogen-based gas to convert the localized reactive region to a nitride layer.

Abstract: A method of plasma processing that includes: flowing a first gas and a second gas into a plasma processing chamber including a substrate, the second gas including a film precursor; at a first time instance, while maintaining the flow of the first gas, shutting off the flow of the second gas into the plasma processing chamber; and at a second time instance after the first time instance, powering an electrode of the plasma processing chamber to generate a plasma within the plasma processing chamber, the surface of the substrate being exposed to the generated plasma to form a film over the substrate.

Abstract: A method of nitridation includes cyclically performing the following steps in situ within a processing chamber at a temperature less than about 400° C.: treating an unreactive surface of a substrate in the processing chamber to convert the unreactive surface to a reactive surface by exposing the unreactive surface to an energy flux, and nitridating the reactive surface using a nitrogen-based gas to convert the reactive surface to a nitride layer including a subsequent unreactive surface.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for processing an object to be processed with plasma, includes: a stage on which the object to be processed is placed; an electrode arranged at a position facing the stage and to which high-frequency power having a frequency of 30 MHz or more is supplied; and a waveguide configured to propagate electromagnetic waves generated based on the high-frequency power to a plasma processing space formed between the stage and the electrode, wherein the waveguide is formed in an annular shape in a plan view so that an end portion of the waveguide near the plasma processing space surrounds an outer periphery of the electrode, a plurality of pins are provided to protrude into the waveguide, and the plurality of pins are arranged at respective positions separated from one another along a circumferential direction in the plan view.

Abstract: A method of nitridation includes cyclically performing the following steps in situ within a processing chamber at a temperature less than about 400° C.: treating an unreactive surface of a substrate in the processing chamber to convert the unreactive surface to a reactive surface by exposing the unreactive surface to an energy flux, and nitridating the reactive surface using a nitrogen-based gas to convert the reactive surface to a nitride layer including a subsequent unreactive surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a carbon hard mask includes generating a radio frequency plasma including carbon-based ions by supplying continuous wave radio frequency power to a plasma processing chamber. The carbon-based ions have a first average ion energy. The method further includes adjusting the first average ion energy of the carbon-based ions to a second average ion energy by supplying continuous wave direct current power to the plasma processing chamber concurrently with the continuous wave radio frequency power and forming a carbon hard mask at a substrate within the plasma processing chamber by delivering the carbon-based ions having the second average ion energy to the substrate.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for processing a workpiece with plasma includes a stage configured to place thereon the workpiece, a waveguide part configured to introduce plasma-generating electromagnetic waves in a VHF band into the plasma processing apparatus, and a dielectric window configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves introduced through the waveguide part to a plasma processing space formed on a workpiece placement side of the stage. The dielectric window is an annular member disposed so as to face a plasma processing space side of the stage and includes multiple convex portions, which protrude toward the stage and are arranged on the stage side along a circumferential direction at regular intervals. The convex portions each has a circumferential width of ? to ? of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves inside the dielectric window.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus is provided, in which an electromagnetic wave in a VHF band of 100 MHz or higher is supplied to a chamber to form a plasma. The plasma processing apparatus includes a ceiling wall that defines a part of the chamber, and a central conductor for supplying the electromagnetic wave that is disposed in a hole formed in the center of the ceiling wall. A central position of the central conductor substantially coincides with a central position of a stage on which a workpiece is placed, and an outer diameter of the central conductor and a size of the hole of the ceiling wall are defined such that a cutoff frequency of a coaxial path composed of the central conductor and the ceiling wall is greater than a frequency of the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: An antenna includes a first waveguide configured to guide VHF radio frequency waves, and a second waveguide configured to guide the VHF radio frequency waves supplied from the first waveguide, the second waveguide having a pair of metal reflective plates therein facing each other across a longitudinal distance along the second waveguide, wherein a tip end of the first waveguide is coupled to the second waveguide at a sideways point thereof between the metal reflective plates, and wherein a distance between the metal reflective plates is ?g/4+?g·n/2, ?g being a wavelength of the VHF radio frequency waves in tube, and n being an integer greater than or equal to zero.

Abstract: A microwave plasma source for generating a microwave plasma inside a chamber by radiating a microwave into the chamber, includes: a microwave oscillator for oscillating the microwave and vary an oscillation frequency thereof; a waveguide through which the microwave propagates; an antenna part including a slot antenna for radiating the microwave into the chamber and having a predetermined pattern of slots, and a microwave-transmitting plate constituting a ceiling plate of the chamber and made of a dielectric material through which the microwave radiated from the slots transmits; temperature detectors for detecting temperatures at plural positions of the antenna part outside the chamber when the microwave plasma is generated; and a frequency controller for receiving detection signals obtained by the temperature detectors and controlling the oscillation frequency of the microwave oscillator so that a plasma density distribution inside the chamber becomes a desired distribution based on the detection signals.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a placing table provided to be rotatable around an axis; a gas supplying section that supplies gas to regions through which a substrate sequentially passes while being moved in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis as the placing table is rotated; and a plasma generating section that generates plasma using the supplied gas. The plasma generating section includes an antenna that radiates microwaves, and a coaxial waveguide that supplies the microwaves to the antenna. Line segments constituting a plane shape of the antenna when viewed in a direction along the axis include two line segments which are spaced to be distant from each other as being spaced away from the axis. The coaxial waveguide supplies the microwaves to the antenna from a gravity center of the antenna.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container that defines a processing space; a microwave generator that generates microwaves for plasma excitation; a dielectric having a facing surface that faces the processing space; a slot plate provided on a surface of the dielectric opposite to the facing surface and formed with a plurality of slots that radiate the microwaves to the processing space through the dielectric; and a conductor pattern that is provided on the facing surface of the dielectric and converges an electric field corresponding to the microwaves radiated from each of the slots.

Abstract: A processing chamber accommodating a mounting table includes a first region and a second region. As the mounting table rotates, a substrate mounting region of the mounting table moves in a circumferential direction around the axis to pass through the first region and the second region. A first gas supply unit supplies a precursor gas to the first region from an injection unit disposed to face the mounting table. An exhaust outlet exhausts an exhaust port formed to extend along a closed path surrounding the exhaust outlet. A second gas supply unit supplies purge gas from an injection port formed to extend along a closed path surrounding the exhaust port. A plasma generation unit generates plasma from a reaction gas in the second region. An angular range of the second region is larger than an angular range of the first region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus that processes a processing target substrate using microwave plasma within a processing container. The plasma processing apparatus includes a placing table provided in the processing container, and configured to place the processing target substrate thereon; and an antenna provided above the placing table to face the placing table, and including a dielectric plate, the antenna being configured to radiate microwaves into the processing container through the dielectric plate to generate plasma of a processing gas supplied into the processing container. The dielectric plate includes a flat plate portion provided on a bottom surface of the antenna, and formed in a flat shape at least on a surface facing the placing table; and a rib formed on a surface of the flat plate portion that is opposite to the surface facing the placing table.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus that includes a processing container configured to accommodate a wafer, and a dielectric window provided to hermetically seal an opening formed in a top portion of the processing container, and configured to transmit microwaves into the processing container. The dielectric window has a thickness of 3?/8 or less (here, ? is a wavelength of the microwaves) at least at a predetermined position where a microwave power is concentrated, and a protrusion is formed at the predetermined position on a bottom surface of the dielectric window to protrude downward from the bottom surface.

Abstract: An antenna includes a first waveguide configured to guide VHF radio frequency waves, and a second waveguide configured to guide the VHF radio frequency waves supplied from the first waveguide, the second waveguide having a pair of metal reflective plates therein facing each other across a longitudinal distance along the second waveguide, wherein a tip end of the first waveguide is coupled to the second waveguide at a sideways point thereof between the metal reflective plates, and wherein a distance between the metal reflective plates is ?g/4+?g·n/2, ?g being a wavelength of the VHF radio frequency waves in tube, and n being an integer greater than or equal to zero.

Abstract: Provided is a film forming apparatus including a placement stage; a processing container that defines a processing chamber which accommodates the placement stage and includes a first region and a second region; a gas supply section that supplies a precursor gas to the first region; and a plasma generation section that generates plasma of a reactive gas in the second region. The plasma generation section includes: at least one waveguide that defines a wave guiding path above the placement stage and above the second region, a microwave generator connected to the at least one waveguide, and a plurality of protrusions made of a dielectric material. The protrusions pass through a plurality of openings formed in a lower conductive part of the at least one waveguide to extend into the second region. The protrusions are arranged in a radial direction with respect an axis of the placement stage.