A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, substrate support, radio-frequency (RF) power supply, bias power supply, measuring device, and controller. The RF power supply provides RF power to a lower electrode included in the substrate support in the chamber or to an upper electrode. The bias power supply provides RF bias power to the lower electrode. The measuring device measures a frequency of a reflected wave of the RF power returned toward the RF power supply. The controller controls the bias power supply to adjust a power level of the RF bias power to a peak value of absolute values of negative shifts in frequency of the reflected wave from a frequency of the RF power, or controls the RF power supply to modulate the RF power in a cycle obtained based on an occurrence time of the peak of absolute values.

A method reduces differences in chucking forces that are applied by two electrodes of an electrostatic chuck, to a substrate disposed atop the chuck. The method includes providing initial chucking voltages to each of the two electrodes, and measuring an initial current provided to at least a first electrode of the two electrodes. The method further includes initiating a process that affects a DC voltage of the substrate, then measuring a modified current provided to at least the first electrode, and determining, based at least on the initial current and the modified current, a modified chucking voltage for a selected one of the two electrodes, that will reduce chucking force imbalance across the substrate. The method also includes providing the modified chucking voltage to the selected one of the two electrodes.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a system used in a semiconductor device manufacturing process. More specifically, embodiments provided herein generally include apparatus and methods for synchronizing and controlling the delivery of an RF bias voltage signal and a pulsed voltage waveform to one or more electrodes within a plasma processing chamber. Embodiments of the disclosure include a method and apparatus for synchronizing a pulsed radio frequency (RF) waveform to a pulsed voltage (PV) waveform, such that the pulsed RF waveform is on during a first stage of the PV waveform and off during a second stage. The first stage of the PV waveform includes a sheath collapse stage. The second stage of the PV waveform includes an ion current stage.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber that performs a plasma processing using plasma; a placing table provided in the processing chamber and including a substrate placing portion and a focus ring placing portion, the focus ring placing portion surrounding the substrate placing portion; a focus ring disposed on the focus ring placing portion; a first electrode and a second electrode both disposed inside the focus ring placing portion; a DC power source configured to apply a first DC voltage to the first electrode and apply a second DC voltage to the second electrode; and a controller configured to control the DC power source such that respective polarities of the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage are independently and periodically switched.

A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.

A nanosecond pulser system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the nanosecond pulser system may include a nanosecond pulser having a nanosecond pulser input; a plurality of switches coupled with the nanosecond pulser input; one or more transformers coupled with the plurality of switches; and an output coupled with the one or more transformers and providing a high voltage waveform with a amplitude greater than 2 kV and a frequency greater than 1 kHz based on the nanosecond pulser input. The nanosecond pulser system may also include a control module coupled with the nanosecond pulser input; and an control system coupled with the nanosecond pulser at a point between the transformer and the output, the control system providing waveform data regarding an high voltage waveform produced at the point between the transformer and the output.

A sample releasing method for releasing a sample subjected to plasma processing from a sample stage on which the sample is electrostatically attracted by applying DC voltage to an electrostatic chuck electrode, and the method includes: moving the sample subjected to the plasma processing upward above the sample stage; and after moving the sample, controlling the DC voltage such that an electric potential of the sample is to be smaller.

A method for controlling an electrostatic attractor, which attracts an electrode to a gas plate provided in an upper portion of a plasma processing apparatus, includes, among a plasma generation period in which plasma is generated by the plasma processing apparatus and an idle period in which no plasma is generated by the plasma processing apparatus, applying voltages having polarities different from each other to first and second electrodes of the electrostatic attractor in at least the idle period.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma processing chamber, a substrate support, a source RF generator, and a bias RF generator. The substrate support is disposed within the plasma processing chamber. The source RF generator is configured to generate a source RF signal. The source RF signal includes source cycles, and each of the source cycles includes a source ON state and a source OFF state. The source ON state has at least two source power levels. The bias RF generator is coupled to the substrate support and configured to generate a bias RF signal. The bias RF signal includes bias cycles corresponding to the source cycles, respectively. Each of the bias cycles includes a bias ON state and a bias OFF state. The bias ON state has at least two bias power levels.

A high voltage power system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the high voltage power system includes a high voltage pulsing power supply; a transformer electrically coupled with the high voltage pulsing power supply; an output electrically coupled with the transformer and configured to output high voltage pulses with an amplitude greater than 1 kV and a frequency greater than 1 kHz; and a bias compensation circuit arranged in parallel with the output. In some embodiments, the bias compensation circuit can include a blocking diode; and a DC power supply arranged in series with the blocking diode.