Abstract: A substrate with a multilayer reflection film for an EUV mask blank including a substrate, and a multilayer reflection film formed on the substrate is provided. The multilayer reflection film includes a Si/Mo laminated portion and a protection layer containing Ru and including a lower layer composed of Ru, and an upper layer composed of a material containing Ru and at least one selected from the group consisting of metals other than Ru, and metalloids.

Abstract: A substrate with a multilayer reflection film for an EUV mask blank including a substrate, and a multilayer reflection film formed on the substrate is provided. The multilayer reflection film includes a Si/Mo laminated portion in which Si layers and Mo layers are alternately laminated, and a layer containing Si and N intervenes at one or more portions between the Si layer and the Mo layer of the Si/Mo laminated portion, and is contact with both of the Si layer and the Mo layer.

Abstract: In a photomask blank including a transparent substrate and a first inorganic film containing either or both of a transition metal and silicon, and optional a second inorganic film containing either or both of a transition metal and silicon, when an intensity of secondary ions is measured in the thickness direction of the transparent substrate and the inorganic films by TOF-SIMS with using a primary ion source of Bi and a sputtering ion source of Cs, an intensity of secondary ions containing carbon detected at the interface of the transparent substrate and the inorganic film or the inorganic films is higher than both intensities of the secondary ions containing carbon detected, respectively, at the sides remote from the interface.

Abstract: A substrate defect inspection method includes: irradiating a target substrate with an EUV beam from an EUV illumination source by using a first focusing optical system; guiding a scattered reflected beam, but no specularly-reflected beam, among beams reflected from the target substrate to a light receiving surface of a sensor by using a second focusing optical system; and determining that a defect is present at an irradiation spot of the target substrate with the EUV beam when an intensity of the received scattered reflected beam exceeds a predetermined threshold; the method further including, before the irradiation of the target substrate with the EUV beam: a reflectance acquisition step of acquiring a reflectance of the target substrate to the EUV beam; and a threshold computation step of setting the predetermined threshold based on the reflectance acquired in the reflectance acquisition step.

Abstract: With respect to a reflective mask blank for a reflective mask used in EUV lithography using EUV light, the reflective mask blank including a substrate, a multilayer reflection film having a periodically laminated structure in which low-refractive index layers composed of a material containing molybdenum and high-refractive index layers are alternately laminated, a protection film, and an absorber film is provided. The low-refractive index layer consists of one or more of first low-refractive index sublayers, and one or more of second low-refractive index sublayers that have a different composition from a composition of the first low-refractive index sublayer.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank that is a material for a reflective mask used in EUV lithography using EUV light as exposure light, including a substrate, a multilayer reflection film that is formed on one main surface of the substrate and reflects the exposure light, and an absorber film containing tungsten, and another metal, a metalloid or a light element that is formed on the multilayer reflection film and absorbs the exposure light.

Abstract: Metal and metalloid elements for an absorber film of a reflective mask blank are selected from first, second and third elements included in first, second and third regions, respectively, that are defined by a refractive index n and an extinction coefficient k of a simple substance of each of the metal and metalloid elements, and the absorber film is formed so as to have a reflectance ratio of 0.05 to 0.25, and a phase shift of 180 to 260° by the selected metal and metalloid elements.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank including a substrate, and a multilayer reflection film for EUV light reflection, a protection film, and an absorber film for EUV light absorption formed on one main surface of the substrate in this order from the substrate side, and a conductive film formed on another main surface of the substrate, a coordinate reference mark is formed on the other main surface side.

Abstract: A photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a light-shielding film disposed thereon is provided. The light-shielding film is constructed by a single layer or multiple layers including a light-shielding layer containing Si and N, having a N content of 3-50 at % based on the sum of Si and N, being free of a transition metal.

Abstract: A substrate with a multilayer reflection film for an EUV mask blank including a substrate, and a multilayer reflection film formed on the substrate is provided. The multilayer reflection film includes a Si/Mo laminated portion and a protection layer containing Ru and including a lower layer composed of Ru, and an upper layer composed of a material containing Ru and at least one selected from the group consisting of metals other than Ru, and metalloids.

Abstract: A substrate with a multilayer reflection film for an EUV mask blank including a substrate, and a multilayer reflection film formed on the substrate is provided. The multilayer reflection film includes a Si/Mo laminated portion in which Si layers and Mo layers are alternately laminated, and a layer containing Si and N intervenes at one or more portions between the Si layer and the Mo layer of the Si/Mo laminated portion, and is contact with both of the Si layer and the Mo layer.

Abstract: A substrate defect inspection method includes: irradiating a target substrate with an EUV beam from an EUV illumination source by using a first focusing optical system; guiding a scattered reflected beam, but no specularly-reflected beam, among beams reflected from the target substrate to a light receiving surface of a sensor by using a second focusing optical system; and determining that a defect is present at an irradiation spot of the target substrate with the EUV beam when an intensity of the received scattered reflected beam exceeds a predetermined threshold; the method further including, before the irradiation of the target substrate with the EUV beam: a reflectance acquisition step of acquiring a reflectance of the target substrate to the EUV beam; and a threshold computation step of setting the predetermined threshold based on the reflectance acquired in the reflectance acquisition step.

Abstract: In a photomask blank including a transparent substrate and a first inorganic film containing either or both of a transition metal and silicon, and optional a second inorganic film containing either or both of a transition metal and silicon, when an intensity of secondary ions is measured in the thickness direction of the transparent substrate and the inorganic films by TOF-SIMS with using a primary ion source of Bi and a sputtering ion source of Cs, an intensity of secondary ions containing carbon detected at the interface of the transparent substrate and the inorganic film or the inorganic films is higher than both intensities of the secondary ions containing carbon detected, respectively, at the sides remote from the interface.

Abstract: A substrate with a film for a reflective mask blank and a reflective mask blank, including a substrate, a multilayer reflection film of Mo layers and Si layers, and a Ru protection film is provided. The substrate and blank include a mixing layer containing Mo and Si existing between the Mo layer and Si layer, another mixing layer containing Ru and Si generating between the uppermost Si layer and the Ru protection film, the film and layers have thicknesses satisfying defined expressions.

Abstract: A photomask blank is provided comprising a transparent substrate, a first film of chromium-containing material on the substrate, and a second film of silicon/oxygen-containing material disposed contiguous to the first film. The second film includes a first layer contiguous to the first film and a second layer spaced apart from the first layer in film thickness direction. The oxygen content of the first layer is lower than the oxygen content of the second layer. During etching of the first film, this setting prevents an etching rate from ramping up at the interface between the first and second films.

Abstract: A halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a halftone phase shift film thereon is provided. The halftone phase shift film includes at least one layer composed of a silicon base material having a transition metal content ?3 at %, a Si+N+O content ?90 at %, a Si content of 30-70 at %, a N+O content of 30-60 at %, and an O content ?30 at %, and having a sheet resistance ?1013/?/?. The halftone phase shift film undergoes minimal pattern size variation degradation upon exposure to sub-200 nm radiation, and has chemical resistance and improved processability.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank including a substrate, and a multilayer reflection film for EUV light reflection, a protection film, and an absorber film for EUV light absorption formed on one main surface of the substrate in this order from the substrate side, and a conductive film formed on another main surface of the substrate, a coordinate reference mark is formed on the other main surface side.

Abstract: During reactive sputtering using a silicon-containing target, an inert gas, and a nitrogen-containing reactive gas, a hysteresis curve is drawn by sweeping the flow rate of the reactive gas, and plotting the sputtering voltage or current during the sweep versus the flow rate of the reactive gas. In the step of sputtering in a region corresponding to a range from more than the lower limit of reactive gas flow rate providing the hysteresis to less than the upper limit, the target power, the inert gas flow rate and/or the reactive gas flow rate is increased or decreased continuously or stepwise. The halftone phase shift film including a layer containing transition metal, silicon and nitrogen is improved in in-plane uniformity of optical properties.

Abstract: A photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a light-shielding film disposed thereon is provided. The light-shielding film is constructed by a single layer or multiple layers including a light-shielding layer containing Si and N, having a N content of 3-50 at % based on the sum of Si and N, being free of a transition metal.

Abstract: During reactive sputtering using a silicon-containing target, an inert gas, and a nitrogen-containing reactive gas, a hysteresis curve is drawn by sweeping the flow rate of the reactive gas, and plotting the sputtering voltage or current during the sweep versus the flow rate of the reactive gas. In the step of sputtering in a region corresponding to a range from more than the lower limit of reactive gas flow rate providing the hysteresis to less than the upper limit, the target power, the inert gas flow rate and/or the reactive gas flow rate is increased or decreased continuously or stepwise. The halftone phase shift film including a layer containing transition metal, silicon and nitrogen is improved in in-plane uniformity of optical properties.