Abstract: The present invention provides a photomask blank used for producing a photomask to which an ArF excimer laser light is applied, wherein: a light-shielding film is provided on a light transmissive substrate; the light-shielding film has a laminated structure in which a back-surface antireflection layer, a light-shielding layer and a front-surface antireflection layer are laminated in this order from the side close to the light transmissive substrate; the thickness of the entire light-shielding film is 70 nm or less; the back-surface antireflection layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a first etching rate; the front-surface antireflection layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a third etching rate; the light-shielding layer is made of a film containing the same metal as that contained in the back-surface antireflection layer or the front-surface antireflection layer and has a second etching rate that is lower than the first etching rate and the third etching rate; and the thickness of

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a mask blank adapted to be formed with a resist pattern by electron beam writing and having a light-shielding film and an etching mask film of an inorganic-based material resistant to etching of the light-shielding film which are formed in this order on a transparent substrate, when forming the etching mask film, shielding is performed using a shielding plate so as to prevent the etching mask film from being formed at least at a side surface of the substrate.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a mask blank adapted to be formed with a resist pattern by electron beam writing and having a light-shielding film and an etching mask film of an inorganic-based material resistant to etching of the light-shielding film which are formed in this order on a transparent substrate, when forming the etching mask film, shielding is performed using a shielding plate so as to prevent the etching mask film from being formed at least at a side surface of the substrate.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a mask blank adapted to be formed with a resist pattern by electron beam writing and having a light-shielding film and an etching mask film of an inorganic-based material resistant to etching of the light-shielding film which are formed in this order on a transparent substrate, when forming the etching mask film, shielding is performed using a shielding plate so as to prevent the etching mask film from being formed at least at a side surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase shift mask blank (11) that can prevent the occurrence of a loading effect. The phase shift mask blank (11) includes a phase shift film (5) containing silicon, a light-shielding film (2) made of a material resistant to etching of the phase shift film (5), and an etching mask film (3) made of an inorganic material resistant to etching of the light-shielding film (2), which are formed in this order on a substrate (1) transparent to exposure light. Assuming that the thickness of the phase shift film (5) is t1, the etching rate of the phase shift film (5) by dry etching with an etchant using the etching mask film (3) and the light-shielding film (2) as a mask is v1, the thickness of the etching mask film (3) is t2, and the etching rate of the etching mask film (3) by dry etching with the above etchant is v2, (t1/v1)?(t2/v2) is satisfied.

Abstract: A photomask blank has a light shieldable film formed on a light transmitting substrate. The light shieldable film has a light shielding layer which is formed of molybdenum silicide metal containing molybdenum in a content greater than 20 atomic % and not greater than 40 atomic % and which has a thickness smaller than 40 nm, an antireflection layer formed on the light shielding layer in contact with the light shielding layer and formed of a molybdenum silicide compound containing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen, and a low reflection layer formed under the light shielding layer in contact with the light shielding layer.

Abstract: There are provided a photomask blank which is capable of preventing static buildup caused by electron beam pattern drawing for forming a resist pattern, a photomask blank which provides a good pattern accuracy through optimization of the dry etching rate along the depth direction of the shielding film, and a photomask blank which is capable of reducing the dry etching time by increasing the dry etching rate of the shielding film. The photomask blank of the present invention includes a translucent substrate having thereon a shielding film composed mainly of chromium and the shielding film contains hydrogen. The shielding film is formed in such a manner that the film formation rate of the layer at the surface side is lower than the film formation rate of the layer at the translucent substrate side of the shielding film. The dry etching rate of the shielding film is lower at the translucent substrate side than at the surface side.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a mask blank adapted to be formed with a resist pattern by electron beam writing and having a light-shielding film and an etching mask film of an inorganic-based material resistant to etching of the light-shielding film which are formed in this order on a transparent substrate, when forming the etching mask film, shielding is performed using a shielding plate so as to prevent the etching mask film from being formed at least at a side surface of the substrate.

Abstract: By increasing the dry etching rate of a light shielding film, the dry etching time can be shortened so that loss of a resist film is reduced. As a result, a reduction in thickness (to 300 nm or less) of the resist film becomes possible so that pattern resolution and pattern accuracy (CD accuracy) can be improved. Further, by shortening the dry etching time, a photomask blank and a photomask manufacturing method are provided, which can form a pattern of the light shielding film having an excellent sectional shape. In a photomask blank having a light shielding film on an optically transparent substrate, the photomask blank being a mask blank for a dry etching process adapted for a photomask producing method of patterning the light shielding film by the dry etching process using as a mask a pattern of a resist formed on the light shielding film, the light shielding film is made of a material having a selectivity exceeding 1 with respect to the resist in the dry etching process.