Abstract: An optical thin film provided on a base substrate, includes a layer whose main component is ytterbium oxide, and a layer whose main component is magnesium fluoride. The layer whose main component is magnesium fluoride disposed on the layer whose main component is ytterbium oxide. The layer whose main component is magnesium fluoride is positioned opposite from the base substrate with respect to the layer whose main component is ytterbium oxide.

Abstract: An optical thin film provided on a base substrate, includes a layer whose main component is ytterbium oxide, and a layer whose main component is magnesium fluoride. The layer whose main component is magnesium fluoride disposed on the layer whose main component is ytterbium oxide. The layer whose main component is magnesium fluoride is positioned opposite from the base substrate with respect to the layer whose main component is ytterbium oxide.

Abstract: Provided are a film-forming apparatus and a film-forming method capable of preventing complication of an apparatus mechanism in formation of a thin film of multiple materials by sputtering to simplify the apparatus mechanism and preventing an increase in an apparatus cost. The film-forming apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a substrate holder for holding a substrate, cathode mechanisms for supporting targets respectively so that the targets can be opposed to the substrate in the vacuum chamber, and shutters movable forward and backward individually between the targets made of different materials and the substrate to block or pass film-forming particles generated from the targets. At least one of the shutters is formed of a target material different from those for the targets so that the at least one of the shutters is configured as a shutter that also functions as a target.

Abstract: Provided are a film-forming apparatus and a film-forming method capable of preventing complication of an apparatus mechanism in formation of a thin film of multiple materials by sputtering to simplify the apparatus mechanism and preventing an increase in an apparatus cost. The film-forming apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a substrate holder for holding a substrate, cathode mechanisms for supporting targets respectively so that the targets can be opposed to the substrate in the vacuum chamber, and shutters movable forward and backward individually between the targets made of different materials and the substrate to block or pass film-forming particles generated from the targets. At least one of the shutters is formed of a target material different from those for the targets so that the at least one of the shutters is configured as a shutter that also functions as a target.

Abstract: A stress distribution resulting from variation in in-plane film quality of a stress relaxation layer and a reflective layer is eliminated. A reflective layer is stacked on a substrate via a stress relaxation layer. The stress relaxation layer has a stress relaxation portion having a uniform film thickness distribution to cancel the internal stress of the reflective layer, and a stress distribution eliminating portion with a film thickness distribution approximated to a second order even function. The stress is substantially proportional to the film thickness. Thus, formation of a given film thickness distribution allows the stress distribution to be controlled. However, changing the film thickness distribution based on a design value may degrade the optical characteristics. Thus, the film thickness distribution of the stress distribution eliminating portion, which serves to eliminate the stress distribution, is approximated to the second order even function.

Abstract: An optical element for X-ray includes a substrate, a first multilayer film having a reflection property with respect to light in a soft X-ray wavelength range, and a second multilayer film, disposed between the substrate and the first multilayer film, for reducing film stress of the first multilayer film. The second multilayer film has a periodic structure having a unit period film thickness which is 90% or more and less than 110% of a two or more integral multiple of 7 nm.

Abstract: An exposure mirror includes a substrate and an effective region for EUV light including an aperiodic multilayer film formed on the substrate. The exposure mirror is provided with a first evaluation region composed of a periodic multilayer film formed in a region different from the effective region on the substrate.