Patent Number: 051724030
Section: abstract

An X-ray exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern of a mask to a wafer includes an X-ray source accommodating chamber; a mask chuck for supporting the mask; a wafer chuck for supporting the wafer; a stage for moving the wafer chuck; a stage accommodating chamber for accommodating therein the mask chuck, the wafer chuck and the stage; a barrel for coupling the X-ray source accommodating chamber with the stage accommodating chamber, to define an X-ray projection passageway; a blocking window provided in the X-ray projection passageway, for isolating the ambience in the X-ray accommodating chamber and the ambience in the stage accommodating chamber from each other; and a gas supply port contributable to fill the stage accommodating chamber with a gas ambience of low X-ray absorption, the gas supply port opening to the X-ray projection passageway, at a position between the blocking window and the mask supported by the mask chuck.