Abstract: Provided is a mask blank which enables EB defect correction to be suitably applied and which further enables a reduction in the thickness of a light-shielding film. A mask blank 10 is used for producing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF exposure light and has a light-shielding film 2 on a transparent substrate 1. The light-shielding film 2 is composed mainly of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and at least one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen. An etching rate of the light-shielding film by a fluorine-containing substance in a state of not being irradiated with charged particles is low enough to at least ensure etching selectivity with respect to an etching rate of the light-shielding film by the fluorine-containing substance in a state of being irradiated with the charged particles.

Abstract: Provided is a mask blank which enables EB defect correction to be suitably applied and which further enables a reduction in the thickness of a light-shielding film. A mask blank 10 is used for producing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF exposure light and has a light-shielding film 2 on a transparent substrate 1. The light-shielding film 2 is composed mainly of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and at least one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen. An etching rate of the light-shielding film by a fluorine-containing substance in a state of not being irradiated with charged particles is low enough to at least ensure etching selectivity with respect to an etching rate of the light-shielding film by the fluorine-containing substance in a state of being irradiated with the charged particles.

Abstract: A mask blank for use in the manufacture of a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF excimer laser exposure light is disclosed. The mask blank has, on a transparent substrate, a light-shielding film for forming a transfer pattern. The light-shielding film has an at least two-layer structure including a lower layer and an upper layer from the transparent substrate side. The lower layer is made of a material composed of a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and having a nitrogen content of 21 at % or more and a refractive index n of 1.9 or less. The upper layer is made of a material composed of a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and having a refractive index n of 2.1 or less. A surface layer of the upper layer contains oxygen and has a nitrogen content of 14 at % or more.

Abstract: A photomask blank for producing a photomask to which an ArF excimer laser light is applied. The blank includes a light transmissive substrate on which a thin film having a multilayer structure is provided. The thin film has a light-shielding film in which a back-surface antireflection layer, a light-shielding layer and a front-surface antireflection layer are laminated in this order. The light-shielding layer comprises chromium and nitrogen, and the chromium content is more than 50 atomic %. The front-surface antireflection layer and the back-surface antireflection layer each has an amorphous structure made of a material comprising chromium, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon. The chromium content ratio of the front-surface antireflection layer and the back-surface antireflection layer is 40 atomic % or less. A first sum of nitrogen content and oxygen content of the back-surface antireflection layer is less than a second sum of nitrogen content and oxygen content of the front-surface antireflection layer.

Abstract: A mask blank and transfer mask that overcomes problems caused by an electromagnetic field (EMF) effect when a DRAM half pitch (hp) is 32 nm or less specified in semiconductor device design specifications. The mask blank is used in manufacturing a transfer mask to which ArF exposure light is applied, and includes a light shielding film 10 having a multilayer structure. The multilayer structure includes a light shielding layer 11 and a surface anti-reflection layer 12 formed on a transparent substrate 1. An auxiliary light shielding film 20 is formed on the light shielding film 10. The light shielding film 10 has a thickness of 40 nm or less and an optical density of 2.0 or more to 2.7 or less for exposure light. The optical density is 2.8 or more for exposure light in the multilayer structure of the light shielding film 10 and the auxiliary light shielding film 20.

Abstract: Provided is a mask blank which enables EB defect correction to be suitably applied and which further enables a reduction in the thickness of a light-shielding film. A mask blank 10 is used for producing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF exposure light and has a light-shielding film 2 on a transparent substrate 1. The light-shielding film 2 has an at least two-layer structure comprising a lower layer composed mainly of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and at least one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen and an upper layer composed mainly of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and at least one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen. The ratio of the etching rate of the lower layer to that of the upper layer is 1.0 or more and 20.0 or less in etching which is carried out by supplying a fluorine-containing substance to a target portion and irradiating charged particles to the target portion.

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 lower layer, an interlayer and an upper layer are laminated in this order from the side close to the light transmissive substrate; the thickness of the entire light-shielding film is 60 nm or less; the lower layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a first etching rate; the upper layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a third etching rate; the interlayer is made of a film containing the same metal as that contained in the lower layer or the upper layer and has a second etching rate that is lower than the first etching rate and the third etching rate; and the thickness of the interlayer is 30% or less of the thickness of the entire light-shielding film.

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 lower layer, an interlayer and an upper layer are laminated in this order from the side close to the light transmissive substrate; the thickness of the entire light-shielding film is 60 nm or less; the lower layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a first etching rate; the upper layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a third etching rate; the interlayer is made of a film containing the same metal as that contained in the lower layer or the upper layer and has a second etching rate that is lower than the first etching rate and the third etching rate; and the thickness of the interlayer is 30% or less of the thickness of the entire light-shielding film.

Abstract: A mask blank for manufacturing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF excimer laser exposure light that has a transparent substrate and a light-shielding film formed into a transfer pattern. The light-shielding film has at least two-layers, one a lower layer composed mainly of a first material containing a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen, and the other an upper layer composed mainly of a second material containing a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen. A ratio of a first etching rate of the lower layer to a second etching rate of the upper layer is 1.0 or more and 5.0 or less in etching carried out by supplying a fluorine-containing substance onto a target portion and irradiating charged particles to the target portion. Another ratio satisfies the following formula CN??0.00526CMo2?0.640CMo+26.624.

Abstract: A photomask blank is for use in manufacturing a photomask to be applied with exposure light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less. The photomask blank has a light-transmitting substrate and a light-shielding film formed thereon. The light-shielding film has a light-shielding layer containing a transition metal and silicon and a front-surface antireflection layer formed contiguously on the light-shielding layer and made of a material containing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen. The light-shielding film has a front-surface reflectance of a predetermined value or less for the exposure light and has a property capable of controlling the change width of the front-surface reflectance at the exposure wavelength to be within 2% when the thickness of the front-surface antireflection layer changes in the range of 2 nm. The material of the front-surface antireflection layer having a refractive index n and an extinction coefficient k capable of achieving such property is selected.

Abstract: A mask blank for manufacturing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF excimer laser exposure light that has a transparent substrate and a light-shielding film formed into a transfer pattern. The light-shielding film has at least two-layers, one a lower layer composed mainly of a first material containing a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen, and the other an upper layer composed mainly of a second material containing a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen. A ratio of a first etching rate of the lower layer to a second etching rate of the upper layer is 1.0 or more and 5.0 or less in etching carried out by supplying a fluorine-containing substance onto a target portion and irradiating charged particles to the target portion. Another ratio satisfies the following formula CN??0.00526CMo2?0.640CMo=26.624.

Abstract: A photomask blank for use in the manufacture of a photomask adapted to be applied with exposure light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less has a thin film on a transparent substrate. The thin film is made of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and carbon and comprising silicon carbide and/or a transition metal carbide.

Abstract: A photomask blank which is capable of preventing static buildup caused by electron beam pattern drawing for forming a resist pattern. The photomask blank provides a good pattern accuracy through optimization of the dry etching rate along the depth direction of the shielding film, and is capable of reducing the dry etching time by increasing the dry etching rate of the shielding film. The photomask blank 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: Provided is a mask blank which enables EB defect correction to be suitably applied and which further enables a reduction in the thickness of a light-shielding film. A mask blank 10 is used for producing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF exposure light and has a light-shielding film 2 on a transparent substrate 1. The light-shielding film 2 is composed mainly of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and at least one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen. An etching rate of the light-shielding film by a fluorine-containing substance in a state of not being irradiated with charged particles is low enough to at least ensure etching selectivity with respect to an etching rate of the light-shielding film by the fluorine-containing substance in a state of being irradiated with the charged particles.

Abstract: A photomask blank for use in the manufacture of a photomask adapted to be applied with exposure light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less has a thin film on a transparent substrate. The thin film is made of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and carbon and comprising silicon carbide and/or a transition metal carbide.

Abstract: A photomask blank for producing a photomask to which an ArF excimer laser light is applied. The blank includes a light transmissive substrate on which a thin film having a multilayer structure is provided. The thin film has a light-shielding film in which a back-surface antireflection layer, a light-shielding layer and a front-surface antireflection layer are laminated in this order. The light-shielding layer comprises chromium and nitrogen, and the chromium content is more than 50 atomic %. The front-surface antireflection layer and the back-surface antireflection layer each has an amorphous structure made of a material comprising chromium, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon. The chromium content ratio of the front-surface antireflection layer and the back-surface antireflection layer is 40 atomic % or less. A first sum of nitrogen content and oxygen content of the back-surface antireflection layer is less than a second sum of nitrogen content and oxygen content of the front-surface antireflection layer.

Abstract: A mask blank for use in the manufacture of a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF excimer laser exposure light is disclosed. The mask blank has, on a transparent substrate, a light-shielding film for forming a transfer pattern. The light-shielding film has an at least two-layer structure including a lower layer and an upper layer from the transparent substrate side. The lower layer is made of a material composed of a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and having a nitrogen content of 21 at % or more and a refractive index n of 1.9 or less. The upper layer is made of a material composed of a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and having a refractive index n of 2.1 or less. A surface layer of the upper layer contains oxygen and has a nitrogen content of 14 at % or more.

Abstract: Provided is a mask blank which enables EB defect correction to be suitably applied and which further enables a reduction in the thickness of a light-shielding film. A mask blank 10 is used for producing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF exposure light and has a light-shielding film 2 on a transparent substrate 1. The light-shielding film 2 is composed mainly of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and at least one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen. An etching rate of the light-shielding film by a fluorine-containing substance in a state of not being irradiated with charged particles is low enough to at least ensure etching selectivity with respect to an etching rate of the light-shielding film by the fluorine-containing substance in a state of being irradiated with the charged particles.

Abstract: A mask blank for use in the manufacture of a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF excimer laser exposure light is disclosed. The mask blank has, on a transparent substrate, a light-shielding film for forming a transfer pattern. The light-shielding film has an at least two-layer structure including a lower layer and an upper layer from the transparent substrate side. The lower layer is made of a material composed of a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and having a nitrogen content of 21 at % or more and a refractive index n of 1.9 or less. The upper layer is made of a material composed of a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and having a refractive index n of 2.1 or less. A surface layer of the upper layer contains oxygen and has a nitrogen content of 14 at % or more.

Abstract: A photomask blank is for use in manufacturing a photomask to be applied with exposure light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less. The photomask blank has a light-transmitting substrate and a light-shielding film formed thereon. The light-shielding film has a light-shielding layer containing a transition metal and silicon and a front-surface antireflection layer formed contiguously on the light-shielding layer and made of a material containing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen. The light-shielding film has a front-surface reflectance of a predetermined value or less for the exposure light and has a property capable of controlling the change width of the front-surface reflectance at the exposure wavelength to be within 2% when the thickness of the front-surface antireflection layer changes in the range of 2 nm. The material of the front-surface antireflection layer having a refractive index n and an extinction coefficient k capable of achieving such property is selected.