Plasma generating apparatus and surface processing apparatus

Abstract

A surface processing apparatus comprises a container provided with a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode for supporting a substrate to be processed and filled with a gas at a reduced pressure, an electric field generator for generating an electric field between the first and second electrodes, and a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field in the vacuum container. The magnetic field generator comprises a plurality of magnet element groups arranged in a circle around the container so as to form a ring, each of the magnet element groups having an axis directed to a center of the circle and a synthetic magnetization direction and comprising one or a plurality of magnet elements having respective magnetization directions which are synthesized to be equal to the synthetic magnetization direction of the each of the magnetic element groups. One of the magnet element groups is so disposed that the synthetic magnetization direction thereof coincides with the axis thereof, and each of the magnet element groups other than the one magnet element group is so disposed that an angle of the synthetic magnetization direction thereof relative to the synthetic magnetization direction of the one magnet element group is substantially twice an angle of the axis thereof relative to the axis of the one magnet element group.