Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method

Abstract

The plasma processing apparatus includes a holding table disposed in a processing chamber, for holding thereon a target substrate; a dielectric plate disposed at a position facing the holding table, for introducing a microwave into the processing chamber; a plasma igniting unit for carrying out plasma ignition in a state in which an electric field is generated inside the processing chamber by the introduced microwave, thereby generating the plasma inside the processing chamber; and a control unit, which includes an elevating mechanism, for performing control operations to alter a distance between the holding table and the dielectric plate to a first distance, to drive the plasma igniting unit, to alter the distance between the holding table and the dielectric plate to a second distance different from the first distance, and to carry out the plasma process on the semiconductor substrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.