Abstract: An ashing method of a target substrate is applied after plasma-etching a part of a low-k film by using a patterned resist film as a mask in a vacuum processing chamber. The method includes a process of removing the resist film in the vacuum processing chamber, and a pre-ashing process, performed prior to the main ashing process, for ashing the target substrate for a time period while maintaining the target substrate at a temperature in a range of from about 80 to 150° C.

Abstract: A substarate processing apparatus capable of reducing the capacity of a space in an internal chamber. The internal chamber is housed in a space in an external chamber. A gas supply unit supplies a process gas into the space in the internal chamber. The space in the external chamber is under a reduced pressure or filled with an inert gas. An enclosure being movable and included in the internal chamber defines the space in the internal chamber with a stage heater included in the internal chamber. When a wafer is transferred in and out by a transfer arm used to transfer the wafer, the enclosure exits out of a motion range within which the transfer arm can move.

Abstract: An upper electrode and a lower electrode are disposed opposite to each other in a process container configured to be vacuum-exhausted. The upper electrode is connected to a first RF power supply configured to apply a first RF power for plasma generation. The lower electrode is connected to a second RF power supply configured to apply a second RF power for ion attraction. The second RF power supply is provided with a controller preset to control the second RF power supply to operate in a power modulation mode that executes power modulation in predetermined cycles between a first power set to deposit polymers on a predetermined film on a wafer and a second power set to promote etching of the predetermined film on the wafer.

Abstract: [Subject In a plasma process using an ammonia gas after conducting a plasma process by using a process gas containing fluorine and carbon to a silicone-containing substrate, an ammonium silicofluoride having toxicity and water absorbancy is formed on the substrate. [Means for Solution]After conducting the plasma process using an ammonia gas, the substrate is heated to a temperature not lower than the decomposition temperature of the ammonium silicofluoride to decompose the ammonium silicofluoride in a process container in which the plasma process was conducted, or in a process container connected with the processing vessel which the plasma process was conducted therein and is isolated from a clean room atmosphere.

Abstract: A plasma ashing method is used for removing a patterned resist film in a processing chamber after etching a portion of a low-k film from an object to be processed in the processing chamber by using the patterned resist film as a mask. The method includes a first step of supplying a reaction product removal gas including at least CO2 gas into the processing chamber, generating plasma of the reaction product removal gas by applying a high frequency power for the plasma generation, and removing reaction products deposited on an inner wall of the processing chamber; and a second step of supplying an ashing gas into the processing chamber, generating plasma of the ashing gas by applying a high frequency power for the plasma generation, and removing the resist film.

Abstract: When a substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a first gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of two or less per molecule, while supplying the processing gas toward the substrate independently from a central and a peripheral portion of a gas supply unit, which face the central and the periphery part of the substrate respectively, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the central portion than in the peripheral portion. When the substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a second gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of three or more per molecule, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the peripheral portion than in the central portion.

Abstract: There are provided a plasma processing method and plasma processing apparatus capable of, when ashing a substrate to be ashed having an organic low-k film and a resist film formed thereon to thereby remove the resist film, reducing damages inflicted on the organic low-k film compared with the prior art. A pressure in a plasma processing chamber 102 is set to 4 Pa or below, a first high frequency electric power supply 140 applies an electric power of 0.81 W/cm2 or below as a high frequency electric power of a first frequency to an upper electrode 121 to generate an O2 plasma, and a second high frequency electric power supply 150 applies a second high frequency electric power having a second frequency lower than the first frequency to a susceptor (the lower electrode) 105 to generate a self-boas voltage.

Abstract: A plasma ashing method of an object to be processed removes a resist film therefrom in a processing vessel after etching a part of a low dielectric constant film with the resist film having a pattern thereon as a mask in the processing vessel. The plasma ashing method includes a first and a second ashing processes. The first ashing process removes deposits off an inner wall of the processing vessel by using a first processing gas including at least O2 gas while controlling the pressure in the processing vessel to be smaller than or equal to 20 mTorr. The second ashing process removes the resist film by using a second processing gas including at least O2 gas.

Abstract: A ring mechanism, comprising a focus ring and divided cover rings surrounding a wafer W placed on a loading table (lower electrode) mounted in a processing chamber, wherein a ring-shaped clearance ?1 is provided between the divided rings to spread plasma to the radial outside of the focus ring to allow plasma to get therein, whereby a potential difference between the wafer W and the focus ring can be eliminated to prevent arc discharge by plasma from occurring between the wafer W and the focus ring.