Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus that uses a radial line slot antenna, a slot plate (16) is formed by a material having a thermal expansion rate close to the wave retardation plate (18), or depositing a metal on a dielectric plate constituting the wave retardation plate (18). An intimate contact between the wave retardation plate and a slot plate constituting a microwave radiation surface is improved so as to prevent an abnormal electric discharge.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing vessel, a means for holding a substrate to be processed, an evacuation system coupled to the processing vessel, a means for supplying plasma gas to an interior of the processing vessel, a microwave antenna provided on the processing vessel, and a process gas supply part comprised of two components. The first component includes a plurality of first apertures for passing through plasma formed in interior of the processing vessel, a process gas passage, and a plurality of second apertures in communication with the process gas passage. The second component includes a plurality of third apertures axially aligned with the first apertures in the first component and diffusion surfaces upon recessed areas of the second component, located opposite to the second apertures in the first component.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus (10A) using a microwave plasma is disclosed wherein an inner partition wall (15) is provided within a process chamber (11) so that the inside of the process chamber (11) is divided into a space (11A) where a substrate to be processed is housed and a space (11B) which is defined by the inner partition wall (15) and the outer wall of the process chamber (11). By having such a structure, contamination of the substrate by a gas separated from the sealing material and contamination of the substrate caused by abnormal discharge can be prevented, thereby enabling clean processing of the substrate.

Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus that uses a radial line slot antenna, the efficiency of cooling of a shower plate is optimized and simultaneously the efficiency of microwave excitation is optimized, by causing a radiation surface of the radial line slot antenna to make an intimate contact with a cover plate that forms a part of an outer wall of the processing chamber and makes an intimate contact with the shower plate.

Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus that uses a radial line slot antenna, a slot plate (16) is formed by a material having a thermal expansion rate close to the wave retardation plate (18), or depositing a metal on a dielectric plate constituting the wave retardation plate (18). An intimate contact between the wave retardation plate and a slot plate constituting a microwave radiation surface is improved so as to prevent an abnormal electric discharge.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber; an inlet waveguide having an interior space in which a first standing wave of a microwave is formed by means of resonance; a dielectric within which a second standing wave of the microwave is formed by means of resonance; and a slot antenna having a slot through which the microwave is passed from the interior space to the dielectric. The slot is generally located at a point where the position of a loop in the first standing wave orthogonally projected to the slot antenna coincides with the position of a loop in the second standing wave orthogonally projected to the slot antenna. The present invention provides a plasma processing apparatus that improves the propagation efficiency of a microwave passed through an aperture of the slot antenna, thereby allowing microwave energy to be efficiently introduced into a processing chamber.

Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus, the reflection of microwave by the joint unit between the microwave supplying waveguide and the microwave antenna is reduced by providing a taper surface or a member having a medium permittivity between the microwave supplying waveguide and the microwave antenna so as to moderate an impedance change. Accordingly, the efficiency of power supplying is improved, and reduced discharge ensures stable formation of plasma.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to comprise an apparatus for high efficiency gas temperature and humidity adjustment and an adjustment method allowing to elevate the heat exchange efficiency of a cooling coil, reduce the cooling water quantity, lower also the pipe arrangement diameter and water supply pump power, making possible to cut the initial cost and running cost of the air-conditioning system. The apparatus for high efficiency gas temperature and humidity adjustment is characterized by that means for removing condensate water deposited on the cooling coil.

Abstract: In a fabrication method of a semiconductor device including a plurality of silicon-based transistors or capacitors, there exist hydrogen at least in a part of a silicon surface in advance, and the hydrogen is removed by exposing the silicon surface to a first inert gas plasma. Thereafter, plasma is generated by a mixed gas of a second inert gas and one or more gaseous molecules, and a silicon compound layer containing at least a part of the elements constituting the gaseous molecules is formed on the surface of the silicon gas.

Abstract: In a fabrication method of a semiconductor device including a plurality of silicon-based transistors or capacitors, there exist hydrogen at least in a part of a silicon surface in advance, and the hydrogen is removed by exposing the silicon surface to a first inert gas plasma. Thereafter, plasma is generated by a mixed gas of a second inert gas and one or more gaseous molecules, and a silicon compound layer containing at least a part of the elements constituting the gaseous molecules is formed on the surface of the silicon gas.

Abstract: A plasma device which is provided with a container, a gas supply system, and an exhaust system. The container is composed of a first dielectric plate made of a material capable of transmitting microwaves. An antenna for radiating microwaves is located on the outside of the container, and an electrode for holding an object to be treated is located inside the container. The microwave radiating surface of the antenna and the surface of the object to be treated with plasma are positioned in parallel and opposite to each other. A wall section of the container other than that constituting the first dielectric plate is composed of a member of a material having electrical conductivity higher than that of aluminum, or the internal surface of the wall section is covered with the member.

Abstract: A method for treating a non-planar surface of an object by employing a plasma treatment apparatus in which a microwave dielectric has a non-planar surface corresponding to the surface of the object. A method for forming an optical part is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum apparatus that includes a plurality of vacuum containers each having a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet, a gas supply system for introducing a desired gas into each of the vacuum containers through the gas inlet, and an exhaust system for keeping each of the vacuum containers at a low pressure. In this vacuum apparatus, the exhaust system includes a plurality of multistage vacuum pumps connected in series. The exhaust outlet pressure of the last-stage vacuum pump is substantially at atmospheric pressure. The last-stage vacuum pump is designed to exhaust gas from a plurality of vacuum pumps at previous stages.

Abstract: According to a plasma processing method, a process gas supplied into a process chamber is used to generate plasma from the process gas and process a substrate placed in the process chamber by means of the plasma. The substrate includes stacked films of at least two types to be etched by the plasma, and, according to any of the films that is to be etched, a change is made in the process gas in the plasma generation period. Accordingly, the time required for any process except for the main plasma process can be shortened so that the total time for the entire plasma process can be shortened to improve the processing speed.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus comprises a processing vessel defined by an outer wall and provided with a stage that holds a substrate to be processed thereon, an evacuation system coupled to the processing vessel, a microwave window provided on the processing vessel as a part of the outer wall so as to face the substrate to be processed on the stage, a plasma gas supplying part supplying a plasma gas to the processing vessel, and a microwave antenna provided on the processing vessel in correspondence to the microwave. The plasma gas supplying part includes a porous medium and the plasma gas supplying part supplies the plasma gas through the porous medium.

Abstract: On one side of a microwave entrance window that is exposed to the atmosphere, a slot plate having slots and a resonant unit are provided. The slot plate and the resonant unit are integrally placed to be slidable by linear guides with respect to a process chamber. In this way, a plasma processing apparatus can be provided that performs a highly uniform plasma process and is excellent in terms of plasma generation property.

Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus, a control electrode (131) separates a process space (11C) including a substrate to be processed and a plasma formation space (11B) not including the substrate. The control electrode includes a conductive member formed in a processing vessel and having a plurality of apertures (131a) for passing plasma. A surface of the control electrode is covered by an aluminum oxide or a conductive nitride. In the substrate processing apparatus, a gas containing He and N2 is supplied into the processing vessel. In the plasma formation space, there is formed plasma under a condition in which atomic state nitrogen N* are excited. The atomic state nitrogen N* are used to nitride a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A gas supply path structure forms a fluid path for allowing a laser gas to flow into or out of a pair of fluid inlet and outlet 11a and a laser gas is controlled to a predetermined subsonic speed at a throat portion. Gas supplies for controlling the speed of the gas are connected each to the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet of the gas supply path structure and, together with a cooling device, compose a circulation system for controlling the speed and pressure of the laser gas at the fluid inlet and/or at the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus and a processing apparatus having a widened process condition range allowing plasma generation are obtained by increasing microwave propagation efficiency. The plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber (1, 2) where plasma processing is performed, and microwave introduction means (3a-6a, 3b-6b, 19a, 19b) for introducing microwaves into the processing chamber. The microwave introduction means (3a-6a, 3b-6b, 19a, 19b) includes a dielectric member (5a, 5b, 19a, 19b) transmitting the microwaves. The dielectric member has a shape in cross section in a direction approximately perpendicular to a transmitting direction of the microwaves through the dielectric member that allows transmission of the microwaves of substantially a single mode. The dielectric member has a thickness T in the transmitting direction that satisfies a condition of (?×(2m+0.7)/4)?T?(?×(2m+1.

Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus, a metal made lattice-like shower plate 111 is provided between a dielectric material shower plate 103, and a plasma excitation gas mainly an inert gas and a process gas are discharged from different locations. High energy ions can be incident on a surface of the substrate 114 by grounding the lattice-like shower plate. The thickness of each of the dielectric material separation wall 102 and the dielectric material at a microwave introducing part is optimized so as to maximize the plasma excitation efficiency, and, at the same time, the distance between the slot antenna 110 and the dielectric material separation wall 102 and a thickness of the dielectric material shower plate 103 are optimized so as to be capable of supplying a microwave having a large power.