A plasma processing system including a plasma monitoring probe assembly and processing chamber incorporating the same

A plasma processing chamber is provided comprising one or more process gas inlets, one or more exhaust gas outlets, plasma generating hardware configured to generate a process gas plasma in a plasma processing portion of the plasma processing chamber, a wafer processing stage positioned in the plasma processing chamber, and a plasma monitoring probe assembly. The plasma monitoring probe assembly comprises an electrically conductive probe and an insulator sleeve assembly positioned about the electrically conductive probe. The insulator sleeve assembly comprises a plasma-side sleeve portion and a subterranean sleeve portion positioned about distinct portions of a longitudinal probe axis of the electrically conductive probe of the probe assembly. The plasma-side sleeve portion of the insulator sleeve assembly is constructed of material that is more resistant to plasma-based degradation than is the material of the subterranean sleeve portion of the insulator sleeve assembly, while the subterranean sleeve portion