Abstract: A halftone type phase shift mask blank including, on a transparent substrate, at least a phase shifter film having a predetermined transmittance for an exposed light and a predetermined phase difference for the transparent substrate, wherein the phase shifter film is formed by a multilayer film in which films including at least two layers having an upper layer formed on the most surface side and a lower layer formed thereunder are provided, and a thickness of the upper layer is adjusted in such a manner that a refractive index of the film to be the upper layer is smaller than that of the film to be the lower layer and a surface reflectance for the inspecting light of the phase shifter film is maximized and approximates to a maximum.

Abstract: A halftone phase shift mask blank for use in manufacturing a halftone phase shift mask comprises a transparent substrate, a light transmitting portion formed on the substrate for transmitting an exposure light beam, a phase shifter portion formed on the substrate for transmitting a part of the exposure light beam as a transmitted light beam and for shifting a phase of the transmitted light beam by a predetermined amount, and a phase shifter film for forming the phase shifter portion. The halftone phase shift mask has an optical characteristic such that light beams passing through the light transmitting portion and through the phase shifter portion cancel each other in the vicinity of a boundary portion therebetween, thereby maintaining and improving an excellent contrast at a boundary portion of an exposure pattern to be transferred onto the surface of an object to be exposed.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing apparatus and method able to manufacture a phase shift mask blank in which a total number of particles and pinholes having a diameter larger than about a half of an exposure wavelength in a light semi-transmission film is 0.1 or less per square centimeter. In a DC magnetron sputtering apparatus for manufacturing a halftone phase shift mask blank, for example, a target plane is disposed downwards with respect to a gravity direction, a whole-surface erosion cathode is used, a corner portion 5a of an end of a target and a corner portion of an earth shield are chamfered (R processed), a target end 5b, an exposed backing plate surface 4b and the surface of an earth shield 12 are roughened, and the earth shield 12 is disposed above a target plane d (on a backing plate side).

Abstract: A halftone type phase shift mask blank including, on a transparent substrate, at least a phase shifter film having a predetermined transmittance for an exposed light and a predetermined phase difference for the transparent substrate, wherein the phase shifter film is formed by a multilayer film in which films including at least two layers having an upper layer formed on the most surface side and a lower layer formed thereunder are provided, and a thickness of the upper layer is adjusted in such a manner that a refractive index of the film to be the upper layer is smaller than that of the film to be the lower layer and a surface reflectance for the inspecting light of the phase shifter film is maximized and approximates to a maximum.

Abstract: A halftone phase shift mask blank for use in manufacturing a halftone phase shift mask comprises a transparent substrate, a light transmitting portion formed on the substrate for transmitting an exposure light beam, a phase shifter portion formed on the substrate for transmitting a part of the exposure light beam as a transmitted light beam and for shifting a phase of the transmitted light beam by a predetermined amount, and a phase shifter film for forming the phase shifter portion. The halftone phase shift mask has an optical characteristic such that light beams passing through the light transmitting portion and through the phase shifter portion cancel each other in the vicinity of a boundary portion therebetween, thereby maintaining and improving an excellent contrast at a boundary portion of an exposure pattern to be transferred onto the surface of an object to be exposed.

Abstract: A halftone phase-shift mask blank, in which the phase shifter film is composed of two layers, a low-transmission layer having a principal function of transmittance control, and a high-transmission layer having a principal function of phase shift control, the extinction coefficient K1 of the low-transmission layer and the extinction coefficient K2 of the high-transmission layer satisfy K2<K1?3.0 at an exposure wavelength ? falling between 140 nm and 200 nm, and the thickness d1 of the low-transmission layer satisfies 0.001?K1d1/??0.500 at the exposure wavelength ?.

Abstract: In a halftone-type phase-shift mask blank having a phase shifter film 5, the phase shifter film 5 has a phase adjustment layer 4 for primarily controlling the phase of exposure light, and a transmissivity adjustment layer 3 which is formed between a transparent substrate 2 and the phase adjustment layer 4 and primarily controls the transmissivity of exposure light. The transmissivity adjustment layer 3 has a thickness of 90 angstroms or less.

Abstract: Lubricating oil composition containing components (A)-(C) in a base oil is provided. The components (A)-(C) are (A) one or more metal detergents selected from optionally substituted divalent metal phenates, optionally substituted divalent metal salts of salicylic acid and optionally substituted divalent metal salts of sulphonic acid; (B) one or more zinc dialkyl dithiophosphates; and (C) one or more compounds selected from (i) one or more fatty acid esters, and/or (ii) one or more further phosphorus compounds.

Abstract: A phase shift mask blank 10 having a very thin film (a chromium nitride film) 2 provided on a quartz substrate 1 for forming a phase shift pattern 1P and a resist film 3 formed thereon is used as a material, a resist pattern 3P is formed on the resist film 3, the very thin film 2 is etched by using the resist pattern as a mask, thereby forming a very thin film pattern 2P, the quartz substrate 1 is etched by using the very thin film pattern 2P as the mask, thereby forming the phase shift pattern 1P, and a light shielding film 4 is formed on the substrate 1 over which the formation of the phase shift pattern 1P and the removal of the resist pattern 3 are completed, and the light shielding film 4 is subjected to selective etching by using a resist 5, thereby exposing the phase shift pattern 1P while leaving a shielding portion 4A in a necessary part. Thus, a phase shift mask 20 is obtained.

Abstract: A method for producing a halftone phase shift mask blank having a semi-transmission film on a transparent substrate includes alternately laminating, on a transparent substrate, thin layers substantially made of nitrogen and titanium and thin layers substantially made of nitrogen and silicon to thereby form thereon a multi-layered semi-transmission film, followed by heating the semi-transmission film at 300° C. or higher.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manufacturing method of a phase shift mask blank in which dispersions of phase angle and transmittance among blanks can be reduced as much as possible and yield is satisfactory. In the manufacturing method of the phase shift mask blank, a process of using a sputtering method to continuously form a thin film on a transparent substrate comprises: successively subjecting a plurality of substrates to a series of process of supplying the transparent substrate into a sputtering chamber, forming the thin film for forming a pattern in the sputtering chamber, and discharging the transparent substrate with the film formed thereon from the sputtering chamber; supplying and discharging the transparent substrate substantially at a constant interval; and setting a film formation time to be constant among a plurality of blanks.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manufacturing method of a phase shift mask blank in which dispersions of phase angle and transmittance among blanks can be reduced as much as possible and yield is satisfactory. In the manufacturing method of the phase shift mask blank, a process of using a sputtering method to continuously form a thin film on a transparent substrate comprises: successively subjecting a plurality of substrates to a series of process of supplying the transparent substrate into a sputtering chamber, forming the thin film for forming a pattern in the sputtering chamber, and discharging the transparent substrate with the film formed thereon from the sputtering chamber; supplying and discharging the transparent substrate substantially at a constant interval; and setting a film formation time to be constant among a plurality of blanks.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manufacturing method of a phase shift mask blank in which dispersions of phase angle and transmittance among blanks can be reduced as much as possible and yield is satisfactory. In the manufacturing method of the phase shift mask blank, a process of using a sputtering method to continuously form a thin film on a transparent substrate comprises: successively subjecting a plurality of substrates to a series of process of supplying the transparent substrate into a sputtering chamber, forming the thin film for forming a pattern in the sputtering chamber, and discharging the transparent substrate with the film formed thereon from the sputtering chamber; supplying and discharging the transparent substrate substantially at a constant interval; and setting a film formation time to be constant among a plurality of blanks.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing apparatus and method able to manufacture a phase shift mask blank in which a total number of particles and pinholes having a diameter larger than about a half of an exposure wavelength in a light semi-transmission film is 0.1 or less per square centimeter. In a DC magnetron sputtering apparatus for manufacturing a halftone phase shift mask blank, for example, a target plane is disposed downwards with respect to a gravity direction, a whole-surface erosion cathode is used, a corner portion 5a of an end of a target and a corner portion of an earth shield are chamfered (R processed), a target end 5b, an exposed backing plate surface 4b and the surface of an earth shield 12 are roughened, and the earth shield 12 is disposed above a target plane d (on a backing plate side).

Abstract: In a halftone-type phase-shift mask blank having a phase shifter film 5, the phase shifter film 5 has a phase adjustment layer 4 for primarily controlling the phase of exposure light, and a transmissivity adjustment layer 3 which is formed between a transparent substrate 2 and the phase adjustment layer 4 and primarily controls the transmissivity of exposure light. The transmissivity adjustment layer 3 has a thickness of 90 angstroms or less.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a phase shift mask blank hating a light translucent film or a light translucent portion having the designated phase angle and transmittance and being superior in film characteristics of chemical resistance, light resistance, and internal stress. The invention is characterized by having a translucent film on a transparent substrate, wherein thermal treatment of the translucent film is implemented at more than 150° C. after forming the translucent film comprising nitrogen, metal, and silicon as a main component on said transparent substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing apparatus and method able to manufacture a phase shift mask blank in which a total number of particles and pinholes having a diameter larger than about a half of an exposure wavelength in a light semi-transmission film is 0.1 or less per square centimeter. In a DC magnetron sputtering apparatus for manufacturing a halftone phase shift mask blank, for example, a target plane is disposed downwards with respect to a gravity direction, a whole-surface erosion cathode is used, a corner portion 5a of an end of a target and a corner portion of an earth shield are chamfered (R processed), a target end 5b, an exposed backing plate surface 4b and the surface of an earth shield 12 are roughened, and the earth shield 12 is disposed above a target plane d (on a backing plate side).

Abstract: A method for producing a halftone phase shift mask blank having a semi-transmission film on a transparent substrate includes alternately laminating, on a transparent substrate, thin layers substantially made of nitrogen and titanium and thin layers substantially made of nitrogen and silicon to thereby form thereon a multi-layered semi-transmission film, followed by heating the semi-transmission film at 300° C. or higher.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a half-tone phase shift mask blank and a half-tone phase shift mask of which a translucent film has improved acid resistance, alkali resistance and resistance to excimer laser irradiation while maintaining the internal stress of the film within an acceptable range for the intended use. To achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention provides a half-tone phase shift mask blank which comprises a transparent substrate having provided thereon a translucent film comprising at least one thin layer containing silicon and at least one of nitrogen and oxygen and which is to be exposed to light whose center wavelength is 248 nm or shorter, wherein said translucent film is dense such that it has a center-line surface roughness (Ra) of 0.3 nm or smaller.

Abstract: A halftone phase shift mask blank for use in manufacturing a halftone phase shift mask comprises a transparent substrate, a light transmitting portion formed on the substrate for transmitting an exposure light beam, a phase shifter portion formed on the substrate for transmitting a part of the exposure light beam as a transmitted light beam and for shifting a phase of the transmitted light beam by a predetermined amount, and a phase shifter film for forming the phase shifter portion. The halftone phase shift mask has an optical characteristic such that light beams passing through the light transmitting portion and through the phase shifter portion cancel each other in the vicinity of a boundary portion therebetween, thereby maintaining and improving an excellent contrast at a boundary portion of an exposure pattern to be transferred onto the surface of an object to be exposed.