Patent ID: 7923201
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A near-field exposure method wherein an exposure mask having a light blocking film with an opening smaller than a wavelength of light from an exposure light source is used and wherein an object to be exposed is exposed by near-field light produced at the opening of the exposure mask based on the exposure light from the exposure light source, the method comprising: a step of determining a width of the opening so as to satisfy equations (1), (2) and (3) below, where the width of the opening of the exposure mask is denoted by s (nm), a processing pitch of the object to be exposed is denoted by p (nm) and coefficients are denoted by a and b, a step of preparing the exposure mask having the opening with the width determined by said determining step in order to obtain a largest intensity gradient of the near-field light at a distance corresponding to ¼ of the processing pitch from the center of the opening; and a step of projecting the exposure light to the exposure mask to thereby expose the object to be exposed.