Abstract: To provide an EUV mask blank provided with a low reflective layer, which has excellent properties as an EUV mask blank. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light, an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light and a low reflective layer to an inspection light (wavelength: 190 to 260 nm) for a mask pattern, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the low reflective layer has a stacked structure having a first layer containing at least 95 at % in total of silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N), and a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) or a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta) and nitrogen (N), stacked in this order from the absorber layer side.

Abstract: To provide a substrate with a conductive film for an EUV mask blank, which has a conductive film having a low sheet resistance, excellent surface smoothness and excellent contact to an electrostatic chuck, and with which deformation of the substrate by the film stress in an EUV mask blank can be suppressed. A substrate with a conductive film to be used for producing a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, comprising a conductive film formed on a substrate; wherein the conductive film has at least two layers of a layer (lower layer) formed on the substrate side and a layer (upper layer) formed on the lower layer; and the lower layer of the conductive film contains chromium (Cr), oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H), and the upper layer of the conductive film contains chromium (Cr), nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H).

Abstract: To provide an EUV mask blank with which the etching selectivity under etching conditions for absorber layer is sufficiently high, line edge roughness after pattern formation will not be large, and a pattern with high resolution can be obtained. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light, an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light and a hard mask layer formed in this order on the substrate; wherein the absorber layer contains at least one of tantalum (Ta) and palladium (Pd) as the main component; the hard mask layer contains chromium (Cr), either one of nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H); and in the hard mask layer, the total content of Cr and either one of N and O is from 85 to 99.9 at %, and the content of H is from 0.1 to 15 at %.

Abstract: To provide an EUV mask blank provided with a low reflective layer, which has excellent properties as an EUV mask blank. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light, an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light and a low reflective layer to an inspection light (wavelength: 190 to 260 nm) for a mask pattern, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the low reflective layer has a stacked structure having a first layer containing at least 95 at % in total of silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N), and a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) or a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta) and nitrogen (N), stacked in this order from the absorber layer side.

Abstract: Provision of a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography having an absorber layer having optical constants suitable for reducing the film thickness. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light, that are formed in this order on the substrate; wherein the absorber layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), silver (Ag), niobium (Nb) and titanium (Ti), and the absorber layer further contains palladium (Pd).

Abstract: Provision of a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography having an absorber layer having optical constants suitable for reducing the film thickness. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light, that are formed in this order on the substrate; wherein the absorber layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), silver (Ag), niobium (Nb) and titanium (Ti), and the absorber layer further contains palladium (Pd).

Abstract: Provision of an EUV mask whereby an influence of reflected light from a region outside a mask pattern region is suppressed, and an EUV mask blank to be employed for production of such an EUV mask. A reflective mask for EUV lithography (EUVL), comprising a substrate having a mask pattern region and an EUV light-absorbing region located outside the mask pattern region; a reflective layer provided on the mask pattern region of the substrate for reflecting EUV light and having a portion on which an absorber layer is present and a portion on which no absorber layer is present; the portion on which an absorber layer is present and the portion on which no absorber layer is present being arranged so as to constitute a mask pattern; wherein the reflectivity of a surface of the absorber layer for EUV light is from 5 to 15% and the reflectivity of a surface of the EUV light-absorbing region for EUV light is at most 1%.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography is provided which has an absorber layer wherein stress and crystal structure can be easily controlled. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, which comprises a substrate, and at least a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the absorber layer contains tantalum (Ta), nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H); and in the absorber layer, the total content of Ta and N is from 50 to 99.9 at %, and the content of H is from 0.1 to 50 at %.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography including a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, a reflective layer formed over the front surface of the substrate, an absorbing layer formed over the reflective layer, and a chucking layer formed on the rear surface of the substrate and positioned to chuck the substrate to an electrostatic chuck. The substrate has a non-conducting portion which eliminates electrical conduction between the reflective layer and the chucking layer and electrical conduction between the absorbing layer and the chucking layer, and the non-conducting portion is formed by forming a portion of the substrate covered with one or more covering members and preventing formation of the reflective layer and the absorbing layer.

Abstract: Provision of an EUV mask whereby an influence of reflected light from a region outside a mask pattern region is suppressed, and an EUV mask blank to be employed for production of such an EUV mask. A reflective mask for EUV lithography (EUVL), comprising a substrate having a mask pattern region and an EUV light-absorbing region located outside the mask pattern region; a reflective layer provided on the mask pattern region of the substrate for reflecting EUV light and having a portion on which an absorber layer is present and a portion on which no absorber layer is present; the portion on which an absorber layer is present and the portion on which no absorber layer is present being arranged so as to constitute a mask pattern; wherein the reflectivity of a surface of the absorber layer for EUV light is from 5 to 15% and the reflectivity of a surface of the EUV light-absorbing region for EUV light is at most 1%.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography is provided which has an absorber layer wherein stress and crystal structure can be easily controlled. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, which comprises a substrate, and at least a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the absorber layer contains tantalum (Ta), nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H); and in the absorber layer, the total content of Ta and N is from 50 to 99.9 at %, and the content of H is from 0.1 to 50 at %.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography including a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, a reflective layer formed over the front surface of the substrate, an absorbing layer formed over the reflective layer, and a chucking layer formed on the rear surface of the substrate and positioned to chuck the substrate to an electrostatic chuck. The substrate has a non-conducting portion which eliminates electrical conduction between the reflective layer and the chucking layer and electrical conduction between the absorbing layer and the chucking layer, and the non-conducting portion is formed by forming a portion of the substrate covered with one or more covering members and preventing formation of the reflective layer and the absorbing layer.

Abstract: To provide a method for smoothing a surface of a glass substrate having a concave defect, such as a pit or a scratch. A method for smoothing a surface of a glass substrate having a concave defect thereon, comprising: forming a film on the surface of the glass substrate having the concave defect by a dry deposition method, the film comprising a glass material having a fluid point Tf of 150° C. or above and of not higher than a strain point Ts (° C.) of the glass substrate; and heating the film of the glass material at a temperature of not lower than Tf and not higher than Ts to put the film in such state that the film of the glass material can flow so as to bury the concave defect, followed by cooling the film of the glass material, thereby to smooth the surface of the glass substrate having the concave defect.

Abstract: There are provided a substrate with a reflective layer and an EUV mask blank, which can prevent particles from adhering to a surface of the reflective layer or an absorbing layer, or into a reflective layer or an absorbing layer during formation thereof by eliminating electrical connection between a film formed on a front surface of the substrate and a film formed on a rear surface of the substrate. A substrate with a reflective layer, which is usable to fabricate a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, comprising a chucking layer formed on a rear surface opposite a surface with the reflective layer formed thereon, the chucking layer serving to chuck and support the substrate by an electrostatic chuck, wherein the reflective layer has no electrical connection to the chucking layer.

Abstract: To provide a method for smoothing a surface of a glass substrate having a concave defect, such as a pit or a scratch. A method for smoothing a surface of a glass substrate having a concave defect thereon, comprising: forming a film on the surface of the glass substrate having the concave defect by a dry deposition method, the film comprising a glass material having a fluid point Tf of 150° C. or above and of not higher than a strain point Ts (° C.) of the glass substrate; and heating the film of the glass material at a temperature of not lower than Tf and not higher than Ts to put the film in such state that the film of the glass material can flow so as to bury the concave defect, followed by cooling the film of the glass material, thereby to smooth the surface of the glass substrate having the concave defect.

Abstract: There are provided a substrate with a reflective layer and an EUV mask blank, which can prevent particles from adhering to a surface of the reflective layer or an absorbing layer, or into a reflective layer or an absorbing layer during formation thereof by eliminating electrical connection between a film formed on a front surface of the substrate and a film formed on a rear surface of the substrate. A substrate with a reflective layer, which is usable to fabricate a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, comprising a chucking layer formed on a rear surface opposite a surface with the reflective layer formed thereon, the chucking layer serving to chuck and support the substrate by an electrostatic chuck, wherein the reflective layer has no electrical connection to the chucking layer.

Abstract: A defect repair device includes a defect inspection unit configured to find a size of a protruding defect on a front surface of a multi-layer film having a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a calculation unit configured to calculate a repair energy so as to repair the protruding defect based on the size of the protruding defect found by the defect inspection unit, an energy supplier, and an energy controller configured to control the energy supplier to supply the repair energy calculated by the calculation unit to a portion in the multi-layer film from the rear surface of the multi-layer film so as to cause a decrease in a volume of the portion and retract the protruding defect into the multi-layer film.

Abstract: A film deposition method for a multilayer for a EUV mask blank by which a defect caused by the mixing of a particle in the layer during film formation can be prevented and an ion beam sputtering apparatus suitable for the method are presented. A film deposition method for forming a multilayer for a reflective-type mask blank for EUV lithography on a film deposition substrate by using an ion beam sputtering method, the film deposition method being characterized in that a sputtering target and a film deposition substrate are disposed at opposed positions with a predetermined space, and ion beams are injected to the sputtering target from an ion source which is disposed at a position out of the region where particles move linearly from the film deposition substrate toward the sputtering target.

Abstract: A defect repair device includes a defect inspection unit configured to find a size of a protruding defect on a front surface of a multi-layer film having a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a calculation unit configured to calculate a repair energy so as to repair the protruding defect based on the size of the protruding defect found by the defect inspection unit, an energy supplier, and an energy controller configured to control the energy supplier to supply the repair energy calculated by the calculation unit to a portion in the multi-layer film from the rear surface of the multi-layer film so as to cause a decrease in a volume of the portion and retract the protruding defect into the multi-layer film.

Abstract: It is to provide a black matrix with which the etching rate during patterning can be controlled to be the same level as that of a metal chromium film, and which has adequate acid resistance, alkali resistance, heat resistance and water resistance in a color filter production process. At least one light shielding layer and a low-reflecting film as the case requires are formed on a transparent substrate, and the composition of the light shielding layer is substantially as follows: Ni 40 to 80 mass % Mo 10 to 59 mass % Ta + Nb 0.5 to 8 mass % Fe + Al 0.5 to 10 mass % Zr 0 to 7 mass %.