Vacuum prcessing apparatus and vacuum processing method of sample

摘要

A vacuum processing apparatus includes a vacuum container which can be depressurized, a sample holder inside of the vacuum container for mounting a sample to be processed, wherein films laid over a surface of the sample are etched with plasma generated in a space above the sample holder. The apparatus further includes a gas supply channel for feeding a heat conducting gas between a sample mounting surface and the backside of the sample, and a pressure control unit for changing stepwise the pressure of the gas supply channel between the sample mounting surface and the backside of the sample in accordance with the progress of the processing of the films of the sample by the etching.