In various examples, the disclosed subject matter includes a substrate pedestal that includes a platen formed from a ceramic material and having an upper surface to support a substrate during processing. A stem, formed from a ceramic material, has an upper-stem flange upon which the platen is mechanically coupled. The stem has an interior portion. A backside gas-delivery tube, formed from a ceramic material, is located in the interior portion of the stem. The backside gas-delivery tube includes an upper gas-tube flange that is located between a lower surface of the platen and an upper surface of the upper-stem flange. The backside gas-delivery tube is in fluid communication with at least one backside-gas passage of the platen and is arranged to supply a backside gas to a region below a lower surface of the substrate during processing. Other examples of apparatuses and methods of making and using the apparatuses are included.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a balun having a first unbalanced terminal, a second unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal, and a second balanced terminal, a grounded vacuum container, a first electrode electrically connected to the first balanced terminal, a second electrode electrically connected to the second balanced terminal, and a ground electrode arranged in the vacuum container and grounded.

A plasma processing apparatus includes an impedance matching circuit, a balun having a first unbalanced terminal connected to the impedance matching circuit, a grounded second unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal and a second balanced terminal, a grounded vacuum container, a first electrode electrically connected to the first balanced terminal, a second electrode electrically connected to the second balanced terminal, an adjustment reactance configured to affect a relationship between a first voltage applied to the first electrode and a second voltage applied to the second electrode, a high-frequency power supply configured to supply a high frequency between the first unbalanced terminal and the second unbalanced terminal via the impedance matching circuit, and a controller configured to control an impedance of the impedance matching circuit and a reactance of the adjustment reactance.

A substrate support for a plasma processing apparatus includes a first support area configured to support a substrate placed thereon; a second support area configured to support a focus ring placed thereon, and extending in a circumferential direction outward in a radial direction with respect to the first support area; a conductive structure configured to be connected to the focus ring; and a holder configured to hold the connection member to press the connection member downward, and also to cause the connection member to press the surface of the focus ring. The conductive structure includes a first conductive path which provides a terminal area outward in the radial direction with respect to the second support area, and a connection member configured to electrically connect the focus ring and the terminal area, and disposed on the terminal area to face a surface of the focus ring.

A plasma processing apparatus comprising: a chamber; a lower electrode provided in the chamber and included in a substrate support mounts a substrate thereon; an upper electrode provided in the chamber and disposed to face the lower electrode; a gas supply configured to supply a processing gas between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; a high-frequency power supply electrically connected to the upper electrode and configured to generate a plasma of the processing gas by applying a high-frequency voltage to the upper electrode; and a circuit portion electrically connected between the high-frequency power supply and the lower electrode and provides a potential to the lower electrode. The circuit portion provides the potential to the lower electrode by causing a current to flow from the high-frequency power supply toward the lower electrode when a potential of the high-frequency power supply is higher than a potential of the lower electrode.

A plasma etching apparatus may include a first source electrode, a first bias electrode, and a second bias electrode configured to generate a plasma by supplying energy to a process gas injected into a chamber; and a controller. The controller may be configured to supply a first high-frequency RF power, a first low-frequency RF power, and a second low-frequency RF power to the chamber during a first period from a first time to a second time; ramp down and turn off the first high-frequency RF power to the chamber during a second period from the second time to a third time; and ramp down and turn off the first low-frequency RF power to the chamber during a third period from the second time to a fourth time different from the third time. The third period may be smaller than ½ of the first period and greater than the second period.

A plasma source is provided that includes a body defining an input port, an output port, and at least one discharge section extending along a central longitudinal axis between the input port and the output port. The at least one discharge section includes a return electrode defining a first generally cylindrical interior volume having a first interior diameter, a supply plate comprising a supply electrode, the supply plate defining a second generally cylindrical interior volume having a second interior diameter, and at least one spacer defining a third generally cylindrical interior volume having a third interior diameter. The third interior diameter is different from the first or second interior diameter. The at least one discharge section is formed from the spacer arranged between the return electrode and the supply plate along the central longitudinal axis to define a generally cylindrical discharge gap for generating a plasma therein.

Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus for performing electron beam reactive plasma etching (EBRPE). In one embodiment, an apparatus for performing EBRPE processes includes an electrode formed from a material having a high secondary electron emission coefficient. In another embodiment, an electrode is movably disposed within a process volume of a process chamber and capable of being positioned at a non-parallel angle relative to a pedestal opposing the electrode. In another embodiment, a pedestal is movably disposed with a process volume of a process chamber and capable of being positioned at a non-parallel angle relative to an electrode opposing the pedestal. Electrons emitted from the electrode are accelerated toward a substrate disposed on the pedestal to induce etching of the substrate.

The inventive concept provides a substrate treating apparatus. The substrate treating apparatus includes a chamber having a treating space therein; a support unit positioned within the treating space and configured to support a substrate; and a plasma generation unit configured to generate a plasma from a process gas supplied to the treating space, and wherein the plasma generation unit includes: a bottom electrode member and a top electrode member disposed opposite the bottom electrode, and wherein the top electrode member includes: a first plate; and an electrode pattern on the first plate and having a pattern.

A thermal choke rod connecting a radio frequency source to a substrate support of a plasma processing system includes a tubular member having a first connector for connecting to an RF rod coupled to the substrate support and a second connector for connecting to an RF strap that couples to the RF source. A tubular segment extends between the first and second connectors. The first connector has a conically-shaped end region that tapers away from the inner surface thereof to an outer surface in a direction toward the tubular segment, and slits that extend for a prescribed distance from a terminal end of the first connector. The outer surface of the tubular segment has a threaded region for threaded engagement with an annular cap that fits over the first connector and reduces an inner diameter of the first connector upon contact with the conically-shaped end region of the first connector.