Abstract: Material for forming an underlayer film for lithography, which has a high carbon concentration, a low oxygen concentration, a relatively high heat resistance and also a relatively high solvent solubility, and which can be applied to a wet process is disclosed. Material for forming an underlayer film for lithography contains a compound represented by general formula (1).

Abstract: Provided are a novel resin and a precursor thereof that are excellent in thermal decomposability and solubility in a solvent. The resin is obtained by subjecting, to an acidic treatment, a monoalkylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin that is obtained by reacting a compound represented by the following formula (1), wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and formaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: Provided are a naphthalene formaldehyde resin obtained by reacting a compound (A) represented by formula (1) and formaldehyde (B) in a molar ratio, (A):(B), of 1:1 to 1:20 in the presence of an acidic catalyst, and a deacetalized naphthalene formaldehyde resin and a modified naphthalene formaldehyde resin derived therefrom.

Abstract: A resin having a fluorene structure, a relatively high carbon concentration in the resin, a relatively high heat resistance and a relatively high solvent solubility has a structure represented by wherein each of R3 and R4 independently denotes a benzene ring or a naphthalene ring, a carbon atom at the bridgehead of a fluorene backbone or (di)benzofluorene backbone is bonded with a carbon atom of each of other aromatic rings, and a carbon atom of each of aromatic rings of a fluorene backbone or (di)benzofluorene backbone is bonded with a carbon atom at the bridgehead of other fluorene backbone or (di)benzofluorene backbone. The resin can be applied to a wet process. Methods for producing the resin, for forming an underlayer film useful for forming a novel resist, and for pattern forming using the material, and an underlayer film excellent in heat resistance and etching resistance for multilayer resist are described.

Abstract: There is provided a novel phenolic resin which can be used as a coating agent or a resist resin for a semiconductor, which has a high carbon concentration and a low oxygen concentration in the resin, which has a relatively high heat resistance and also a relatively high solvent solubility, and which can be applied to a wet process. There are also provided a material useful for forming a novel photoresist underlayer film which has a relatively high solvent solubility, which can be applied to a wet process, and which is excellent in etching resistance as an underlayer film for a multilayer resist, an underlayer film formed using the same, and a pattern forming method using the same. A resin of the present invention is obtained by reacting a compound having a specified structure and an aldehyde having a specified structure in the presence of an acidic catalyst. In addition, a material for forming an underlayer film for lithography of the present invention includes at least the resin and an organic solvent.

Abstract: Provided is an aromatic hydrocarbon resin with a high carbon concentration and a low oxygen concentration that can be used as a coating agent or a resist resin for semiconductors, as well as a composition for forming an underlayer film for photolithography with excellent etching resistance as an underlayer film for a multilayer resist process, an underlayer film formed from the composition, and a method for forming a pattern using the underlayer film. An aromatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic aldehyde, and a phenol derivative are reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to yield an aromatic hydrocarbon resin with a high carbon concentration of 90 to 99.9 mass % and a solubility in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate of 10 mass % or more.

Abstract: Provided is an aromatic hydrocarbon resin with a high carbon concentration and a low oxygen concentration that can be used as a coating agent or a resist resin for semiconductors, as well as a composition for forming an underlayer film for photolithography with excellent etching resistance as an underlayer film for a multilayer resist process, an underlayer film formed from the composition, and a method for forming a pattern using the underlayer film. An aromatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic aldehyde, and a phenol derivative are reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to yield an aromatic hydrocarbon resin with a high carbon concentration of 90 to 99.9 mass % and a solubility in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate of 10 mass % or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image inspection apparatus and a method which remove noise even when there is a change in brightness of a multi-valued image, and which inspect a defect, and relates to a computer program. A multi-valued image is acquired, and a reference intensity value based on intensity information for the image is calculated. A difference for each pixel between the intensity value and the reference intensity value is calculated, and a threshold value to track and change in response to a change in the reference intensity value is set and stored. Pixels that have a calculated difference that is larger than the threshold value is extracted, and an aggregate body of pixels based on a connectivity of the intensity value of the extracted pixels is specified, and a characteristic amount using the difference is calculated. A defect is discriminated based on the calculated characteristic amount.