A processing gas is prevented from entering into a space below a placement
table. A supporting surface for supporting the lower face of a placement
table is provided at an inner circumferential portion of the upper end of
a support column. A circumferentially extending purge gas groove is
formed outside the supporting surface, in an intermediate circumferential
portion of the upper end of the support column. A narrow flow path is
provided outside the purge gas groove, at a position corresponding to an
outer circumferential portion of the upper end of the support column. A
purge gas diffuses in the circumferential direction in the purge gas
groove and flows out to the outside from the narrow flow path. Such a
flow of the purge gas prevents a processing gas from entering into the
purge gas groove and a space below the placement table.