An apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck and located within a vacuum enclosure. A plurality of conductive plates can be embedded in the electrostatic chuck, and a plurality of plate bias circuits can be configured to independently electrically bias a respective one of the plurality of conductive plates. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of spot lamp zones including a respective set of spot lamps can be provided between a bottom portion of the vacuum enclosure and a backside surface of the electrostatic chuck. The plurality of conductive plates and/or the plurality of spot lamp zones can be employed to locally modify chucking force and to provide local temperature control.

A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container having a cylindrical shape; a pair of plasma electrodes arranged along the longitudinal direction of the processing container while facing each other; and a radio-frequency power supply configured to supply a radio-frequency power to the pair of plasma electrodes. In the pair of plasma electrodes, an inter-electrode distance at a position distant from a power feed position to which the radio-frequency power is supplied is longer than an inter-electrode distance at the power feed position.

Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a processing chamber. The systems may include a remote plasma unit coupled with the processing chamber. The systems may include an adapter coupled between the remote plasma unit and the processing chamber. The adapter may be characterized by a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The remote plasma unit may be coupled with the adapter at the first end. The adapter may define a first central channel extending more than 50% of a length of the adapter from the first end of the adapter. The adapter may define a second central channel extending less than 50% of the length of the adapter from the second end of the adapter. The adapter may define a transition between the first central channel and the second central channel.

Methods for forming a metal carbide liner in features formed in a substrate surface are described. Each of the features extends a distance into the substrate from the substrate surface and have a bottom and at least one sidewall. The methods include depositing a metal carbide liner in the feature of the substrate surface with a plurality of high-frequency ratio-frequency (HFRF) pulses. Semiconductor devices with the metal carbide liner and methods for filling gaps using the metal carbide liner are also described.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a plasma generator; and a controller configured to cause: (a) providing a substrate including a silicon-containing film and a mask formed on the film; (b) etching the silicon-containing film through the mask to the first depth, thereby forming a recess in the silicon-containing film; (c) forming a protection film at least on the mask and a side wall of the recess formed on the silicon-containing film after (a); and (d) etching the silicon containing film through the mask to a second depth, the second depth being greater than the first depth.

In a plasma processing apparatus including a processing chamber disposed in a vacuum chamber, a sample stage disposed in the processing chamber and on which a sample is placed, in the vacuum chamber, a second shower plate disposed above the sample stage, a first shower plate disposed above the second shower plate, and a dielectric window disposed above the first shower plate, first gas is supplied from a first gas supply unit to a space between the dielectric window and the first shower plate, and second gas is supplied from a second gas supply unit to a space between the first shower plate and the second shower plate.

An apparatus for providing signals to a device may include one or more radiofrequency signal generators, and electrically-small transmission line, which couples signals from the one or more RF signal generators to the fabrication chamber. The apparatus may additionally include a reactive circuit to transform impedance of the electrically-small transmission line from a region of relatively high impedance-sensitivity to region of relatively low impedance-sensitivity.

A device for a plasma processing chamber includes a base, an upper portion attached to the base and extending transverse to the base, and one or more first through holes defined in the base. The one or more first through holes correspond to one or more openings defined in the plasma processing chamber for attaching the device. The device further includes a second through hole defined in the upper portion, and a gauge located in the second through hole, the gauge configured for recording a position of the plasma processing chamber and a shift in the position of the plasma processing chamber.

A substrate processing apparatus is disclosed. An exemplary substrate processing apparatus includes a reaction chamber; a susceptor plate positioned within the reaction chamber, constructed and arranged to support a substrate, and provided with one or more holes; a substrate lift mechanism comprising: a plurality of lift pins to support the substrate; and a lift pin support member to move the lift pins; in a vertical direction through the one or more holes; a substrate transfer robot provided with one or more robotic arms to transfer the substrate to a position above the lift pins; and a gas supply unit constructed and arranged to face the susceptor plate; wherein the gas supply unit is constructed and arranged to move in the vertical direction thereby positioning the gas supply unit in a processing position in the reaction chamber.

A plasma processing method includes: setting a temperature of a substrate support surface to a first temperature; supplying electric power from an electric power adjuster to a heater; before plasma is generated, when the temperature of the substrate support surface measured by a temperature sensor stabilizes at the first temperature, measuring first electric power supplied to the heater; after the plasma is generated, when the temperature of the substrate support surface measured by the temperature sensor stabilizes at the first temperature, measuring second electric power supplied to the heater; calculating an input heat quantity input from the plasma based on the first electric power and the second electric power; and correcting the first temperature to a second temperature based on the input heat quantity and a thermal resistance between the substrate support and the temperature sensor or between a substrate and the temperature sensor.