| CPC H01J 37/32724 (2013.01) [H01J 37/32449 (2013.01); H01J 37/32706 (2013.01); H01J 37/32981 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |

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1. A plasma processing method comprising:
(a) placing a substrate on an electrostatic chuck at a first temperature, the electrostatic chuck being disposed in a plasma processing chamber;
(b) electrostatically attracting the substrate to the electrostatic chuck;
(c) starting supply of a heat transfer gas between the substrate and the electrostatic chuck;
(d) detecting a flow rate of the heat transfer gas or a pressure between the substrate and the electrostatic chuck;
(e) determining whether the flow rate or the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
(f) raising a temperature of the electrostatic chuck until the temperature of the electrostatic chuck becomes a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature; and
(g) generating plasma in the plasma processing chamber.
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