Methods for reducing etch nonuniformity in the presence of a weak magnetic field in an inductively coupled plasma reactor

摘要

Methods and apparatus for plasma-enhanced substrate processing are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method is provided for processing a substrate in a process chamber having a plurality of electromagnets disposed about the process chamber to form a magnetic field within the process chamber at least at a substrate level. In some embodiments, the method includes determining a first direction of an external magnetic field present within the process chamber while providing no current to the plurality of electromagnets; providing a range of currents to the plurality of electromagnets to create a magnetic field within the process chamber having a second direction opposing the first direction; determining a desired magnitude in the second direction of the magnetic field over the range of currents; and processing a substrate in the process chamber using a plasma while statically providing the magnetic field at the desired magnitude.