Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus including: a processing chamber; a sample stage placed inside the processing chamber; a processing gas supply unit which supplies processing gas into the processing chamber; a high-frequency power supply which supplies an electric field inside the processing chamber; an electrostatic chuck unit disposed on the sample stage in which openings to flow heat transfer gas are formed; a refrigerant supply unit which supplies a refrigerant inside the sample stage; and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls a heat transfer gas supply unit to control the temperature of a wafer depending on a plurality of processes for processing the wafer by switching a flow rate of the heat transfer gas or the type of the heat transfer gas flowing out of the openings between a concave portion formed in the electrostatic chuck unit and the wafer attracted to the electrostatic chuck unit.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus including: a processing chamber; a sample stage; a vacuum exhaust unit; and a plasma generation unit, the sample stage includes: a first metallic base material having a refrigerant flow path formed therein; a second metallic base material disposed above the first metallic base material and has a lower thermal conductivity than the first metallic base material; and a plurality of lift pins vertically moving the object to be processed with respect to the sample stage. A plurality of through-holes through which the plurality of the lift pins passes is formed in the first and the second metallic base material, and a boss, which electrically insulates the lift pin from the first and the second metallic base material and is formed using an insulating member having a higher thermal conductivity than the second metallic base material, is inserted into each of the plurality of through-holes.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus including: a processing chamber; a sample stage; a vacuum exhaust unit; and a plasma generation unit, the sample stage includes: a first metallic base material having a refrigerant flow path formed therein; a second metallic base material disposed above the first metallic base material and has a lower thermal conductivity than the first metallic base material; and a plurality of lift pins vertically moving the object to be processed with respect to the sample stage. A plurality of through-holes through which the plurality of the lift pins passes is formed in the first and the second metallic base material, and a boss, which electrically insulates the lift pin from the first and the second metallic base material and is formed using an insulating member having a higher thermal conductivity than the second metallic base material, is inserted into each of the plurality of through-holes.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus including: a processing chamber; a sample stage placed inside the processing chamber; a processing gas supply unit which supplies processing gas into the processing chamber; a high-frequency power supply which supplies an electric field inside the processing chamber; an electrostatic chuck unit disposed on the sample stage in which openings to flow heat transfer gas are formed; a refrigerant supply unit which supplies a refrigerant inside the sample stage; and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls a heat transfer gas supply unit to control the temperature of a wafer depending on a plurality of processes for processing the wafer by switching a flow rate of the heat transfer gas or the type of the heat transfer gas flowing out of the openings between a concave portion formed in the electrostatic chuck unit and the wafer attracted to the electrostatic chuck unit.

Abstract: A plasma processor, including a first gas supplier to supply first gas to the inside of a vacuum vessel, a stage on which a wafer is placed, an electromagnetic wave supplier to supply electromagnetic waves for generating first plasma, a susceptor provided to an outer peripheral portion of the stage, a second high frequency power source connected to the susceptor, and a second gas supplier to supply second gas to the inside of the susceptor. The inside of the susceptor is provided with a high frequency electrode connected to the second high frequency power source and a first earth electrode disposed opposite to the high frequency electrode. The second high frequency power source supplies high frequency power while the second gas supplier supplies the second gas, thereby generating second plasma inside the susceptor.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a refrigerating cycle including a refrigerant passage, a compressor, and a condenser, all of which are coupled in this order, and through which a refrigerant flows in this order, the refrigerant passage being disposed inside a sample stage and through which the refrigerant flows to serve as an evaporator; first and second expansion valves which are interposed between the condenser and the refrigerant passage and between the refrigerant passage and the compressor respectively in the refrigerating cycle; a vaporizer that is interposed between the second expansion valve and the compressor in the refrigerating cycle and which heats and vaporizes the refrigerant; and a controller which regulates opening and closing of the first and second expansion valves and regulates a refrigerant heat exchange amount of the condenser or vaporizer based on a refrigerant temperature between the condenser and the second expansion valve.

Abstract: A sample stage includes plural pushup pins that move a sample up/down above the stage, a recessed and protruding dielectric film on which the sample is loaded, a feeding port disposed on the film and through which gas is fed to a gap between the sample and the film, and openings of through-holes in which the pushup pins are housed, and the stage is connected to a feeding and evacuation conduit including a feeding path that communicates with the port and through which gas fed to the gap flows, an evacuation path that communicates with the opening and through which gas fed to the gap is discharged, and a connection path through which the feeding path and the evacuation path communicate. With communication between the feeding path and the evacuation path via the connection path interrupted, gas from the feeding path is fed to the gap and into the through-hole via the gap.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus including a sample stage arranged in a processing chamber, a temperature regulator arranged in an interior of the sample stage, a film made of a dielectric that configures the upper surface of the sample stage, and including a film-like electrode therein, a protruding portion arranged on an upper surface of the film made of a dielectric on an outer periphery-side area, and arranged to surround a center-side area of the upper surface in a ring manner, a power source that supplies power for forming electrostatic force that absorbs a wafer arranged above the electrode in the film made of a dielectric, and a controller that regulates the power from the power source and the gas introduction between the wafer and the film to hold the wafer above the film in a noncontact manner.

Abstract: A plasma processing method is provided for a plasma processing apparatus which includes a plurality of upstream-side expansion valves and a plurality of downstream-side expansion valves connected to respective refrigerant inlets and respective refrigerant outlets to adjust a flow rate or a pressure of a refrigerant flowing into the respective refrigerant inlets and a flow rate or a pressure of a refrigerant flowing out from the respective refrigerant outlets. The method includes adjusting openings of the upstream-side expansion valves and openings of the downstream-side expansion valves so that no change in flow rate of the refrigerant occurs in a plurality of refrigerant channels between the plurality of upstream-side expansion valves and the plurality of downstream-side expansion valves via the plurality of refrigerant channels in a refrigeration cycle allowing the refrigerant to flow therein.

Abstract: A plasma processor, including a first gas supplier to supply first gas to the inside of a vacuum vessel, a stage on which a wafer is placed, an electromagnetic wave supplier to supply electromagnetic waves for generating first plasma, a susceptor provided to an outer peripheral portion of the stage, a second high frequency power source connected to the susceptor, and a second gas supplier to supply second gas to the inside of the susceptor. The inside of the susceptor is provided with a high frequency electrode connected to the second high frequency power source and a first earth electrode disposed opposite to the high frequency electrode. The second high frequency power source supplies high frequency power while the second gas supplier supplies the second gas, thereby generating second plasma inside the susceptor.

Abstract: A plasma processing device includes: a processing chamber which is disposed in a vacuum vessel and is compressed; a sample stage which is disposed in the processing chamber and on which a wafer of a process target is disposed and held; and a mechanism for forming plasma in the processing chamber on the sample stage, wherein the sample stage includes a block which is made of a dielectric and has a discoid shape, a jacket which is disposed below the block with a gap therebetween, is made of a metal, and has a discoid shape, a recessed portion which is disposed in a center portion of a top surface of the jacket and into which a cylindrical member disposed below a center portion of the block and made of a dielectric is inserted, and a cooling medium flow channel disposed in the jacket and through which a cooling medium circulates.

Abstract: A sample stage includes a metallic electrode block to which high-frequency power is supplied from a high-frequency power supply, a dielectric heat generation layer which is disposed on a top surface of the electrode block and in which a film-like heater receiving power and generating heat is disposed, a conductor layer which is disposed to cover the heat generation layer, a ring-like conductive layer which is disposed to surround the heat generation layer at an outer circumferential side of the heat generation layer and contacts the conductor layer and the electrode block, and an electrostatic adsorption layer which is disposed to cover the conductor layer and electrostatically adsorbs a sample. The conductor layer and the ring-like conductive layer have dimensions more than a skin depth of a current of the high-frequency power and the electrode block is maintained at a predetermined potential during processing of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature control unit for an electrostatic adsorption electrode that is capable of controlling the wafer temperature rapidly over a wide temperature range without affecting in-plane uniformity while high heat input etching is conducted with high wafer bias power applied. A refrigerant flow path provided in the electrostatic adsorption electrode serves as an evaporator. The refrigerant flow path is connected to a compressor, a condenser, and a first expansion valve to form a direct expansion type refrigeration cycle. A second expansion valve is installed between the electrostatic adsorption electrode and the compressor to adjust the flow rate of a refrigerant. This makes it possible to compress the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path of the electrostatic adsorption electrode and adjust the wafer temperature to a high level by raising the refrigerant evaporation temperature.

Abstract: A sterilization device includes: a charged fine water droplet supplying unit; and a plasma generating unit, wherein the charged fine water droplet supplying unit and the plasma generating unit are provided on a wall surface of a wind channel in order of the charged fine water droplet supplying unit and the plasma generating unit from an upper stream in a direction in which air flows, the plasma generating unit includes a charged fine water droplet supplying part and a plasma generator, the charged fine water droplet supplying part includes a high-voltage power supply, an earthed electrode, and an electrode to which moisture is supplied by a water feeding unit, a negative high voltage with respect to the earthed electrode being applied to the electrode supplied with moisture, the plasma generator includes a pair of plasma generating electrodes and a high-frequency power supply, the plasma generating electrodes being covered by a dielectric substance and being provided in the same plane with the dielectric subs

Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing apparatus that can generate uniform plasma without increasing costs per unit electric power even though the discharge area is increased to adapt to samples in given sizes by arranging a plurality of plasma discharge units. A plasma processing apparatus includes an RF power supply having an RF signal circuit and an RF power circuit, a case, and a discharge electrode. A plasma module is configured of the discharge electrode and the RF power circuit provided in the case. A frequency signal from the RF signal circuit is inputted to a plurality of the plasma modules connected in parallel with each other.

Abstract: A sample stage includes plural pushup pins that move a sample up/down above the stage, a recessed and protruding dielectric film on which the sample is loaded, a feeding port disposed on the film and through which gas is fed to a gap between the sample and the film, and openings of through-holes in which the pushup pins are housed, and the stage is connected to a feeding/evacuation conduit including a feeding-path that communicates with the port and through which gas fed to the gap flows, an evacuation-path that communicates with the opening and through which gas fed to the gap is discharged, and a connection-path through which the feeding-path and the evacuation-path communicate. With communication between the feeding-path and the evacuation-path via the connection-path interrupted, gas from the feeding-path is fed to the gap and into the through-hole via the gap.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a vacuum vessel, a processing chamber disposed inside of the vacuum vessel, inside of which plasma is formed, a sample stage disposed below the processing chamber, on whose upper surface a sample that is a target processed by using the plasma is mounted, a sintered plate of dielectric material constituting a mounting surface of the sample stage on which the sample is mounted, abase material of metal bonded to the sintered plate below it with a bonding layer made of an adhesive agent intervening therebetween, and a cooling medium flow channel disposed inside of the base material, through which a cooling medium flows, in which a shearing force of the bonding layer generated in a portion on the peripheral side of the sample stage is made smaller than that generated in a portion on the center side.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus, comprising a processing chamber within a vacuum chamber, and a sample stage arranged within the processing chamber with a sample to be processed placed on its top surface, wherein plasma is formed in the processing chamber to perform processing of the sample, wherein the sample stage is provided with an electrostatic chuck which is provided with film electrodes to which power for attraction of the sample is supplied, and upper and lower plate-like sintered bodies joined mutually with the electrodes interposed between them from above and below, and the lower sintered body has a dielectric constant higher than that of the upper sintered body.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a wafer table, a refrigerant passage disposed inside the wafer table in which a refrigerant flows, a refrigeration cycle comprising the refrigerant passage in the wafer table as a first evaporator in which the refrigerant is evaporated as a result of a heat-exchange therein, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, a second evaporator, and a controlling unit which adjusts a number of rotations of the compressor based upon a degree of dryness of the refrigerant at a position on the refrigeration cycle after passing through the first evaporation in a range in which dry-out does not occur in the first evaporator, and the dryness of the refrigerant being determined based upon an amount of a heat exchange during the evaporation of the refrigerant in the second evaporator.

Abstract: Sterilization and cleaning of an escalator hand rail are performed. A sterilization and cleaning device including a hand rail; a plasma source for irradiating the hand rails with ions or radicals or UV light; an enclosure for housing the plasma source; a power source for generating plasma; a fan for generating relatively negative pressure in the enclosure; filter units for removing removed bacteria, viruses, and organic matters such as hand marks; and filter plates located backward and forward of a moving direction of the hand rail in the enclosure along the hand rail is provided.