US 7,320,941 B2
Plasma stabilization method and plasma apparatus
Takumasa Nishida, Sagamihara (Japan); and Shu Nakajima, Chigasaki (Japan)
Assigned to Lam Research Corporation, Fremont, Calif. (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/427,474.
Claims priority of application No. 2002-129241 (JP), filed on Apr. 30, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0003897 A1, Jan. 08, 2004
Int. Cl. H01L 21/302 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 438—707  [438/706; 438/710; 156/345.42] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. In a plasma processing chamber, a plasma stabilization method, comprising:
sealing the plasma processing chamber with a surrounding member to create an inner space;
constituting at least a part of the surrounding member with a dielectric member configured as a window for sealing a top opening of the plasma processing chamber;
establishing conditions within said inner space to generate a plasma therein by inductively coupling RF energy into said inner space from an RF induction coil disposed proximate to the dielectric member and generating said RF energy exterior to said inner space; and
supplying a magnetic flux within the inner space formed from magnetic fields all of which extend along a common direction from one side of said surrounding member toward a side of said surrounding member disposed opposite to said one side, with said fields having a magnitude to control reflection of said RF energy inductively coupled to said inner space.