Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A microlithography apparatus for forming an image, on a resist-coated substrate, of a pattern defined by a mask, the apparatus comprising: an illumination-optical system situated and configured to direct an illumination light, having a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 50 nm, from a source of the illumination light to a mask; and  an imaging-optical system comprising multiple reflective mirrors having at least one aspherical surficial profile, the imaging-optical system being situated and configured to direct an imaging light, propagating from the mask, to a substrate so as to achieve a pattern-element resolution of 70 nm or finer. 2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an illumination-light source situated and configured to produce the illumination light and to direct the illumination light to the illumination-optical system. claim 1 3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the illumination-light source is selected from the group consisting of laser-plasma X-ray sources, discharge-plasma light sources, synchrotron-radiation sources, and X-ray lasers. claim 2 4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 the illumination-optical system is configured to direct the illumination light to a reflective mask; and  the imaging-optical system is configured to receive the imaging light, formed by reflection of the illumination light from the mask, and to direct the imaging light to the substrate. 5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 the illumination light has a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 22 nm; and  the imaging-optical system has a numerical aperture of at least 0.15. 6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 the illumination light has a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 36 nm; and  the imaging-optical system has a numerical aperture of at least 0.25. 7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 the illumination light has a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 43 nm; and  the imaging-optical system has a numerical aperture of at least 0.3. 8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 the illumination light has a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 50 nm; and  the imaging-optical system has a numerical aperture of at least 0.35. 9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 the imaging-optical system comprises multiple multilayer-film reflective mirrors each having, as a respective reflective surface, an aspherical surface coated with a respective multilayer film, the multilayer film comprising multiple sets of alternating layers of a first material having a refractive index that is greatly different from the refractive index of a vacuum and of a second material having a refractive index that is slightly different from the refractive index of a vacuum;  the first material is selected from the group consisting of boron, ruthenium, manganese, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, and alloys and compounds thereof; and  the second material is selected from the group consisting of lithium, magnesium, aluminum, and alloys and compounds thereof. 10. A microlithography apparatus for forming an image, on a resist-coated substrate, of a pattern defined by a mask, the apparatus comprising: an illumination-optical system situated and configured to direct an illumination light, having a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 50 nm, from a source of the illumination light to a mask; and  an imaging-optical system situated and configured to direct an imaging light, propagating from the mask, to a substrate, the imaging-optical system having a numerical aperture of at least 0.15. 11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein: claim 10 the imaging-optical system comprises multiple multilayer-film reflective mirrors each having, as a respective reflective surface, an aspherical surface coated with a respective multilayer film, the multilayer film comprising multiple sets of alternating layers of a first material having a refractive index that is greatly different from the refractive index of a vacuum and of a second material having a refractive index that is slightly different from the refractive index of a vacuum;  the first material is selected from the group consisting of boron, ruthenium, manganese, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, and alloys and compounds thereof; and  the second material is selected from the group consisting of lithium, magnesium, aluminum, and alloys and compounds thereof. 12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an illumination-light source situated and configured to produce the illumination light and to direct the illumination light to the illumination-optical system. claim 10 13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the illumination-light source is selected from the group consisting of laser-plasma X-ray sources, discharge-plasma light sources, synchrotron-radiation sources, and X-ray lasers. claim 12 14. A method for manufacturing a microelectronic device, comprising: directing a soft X-ray beam to a mask defining a pattern, the soft X-ray beam having a wavelength in a range of 20 nm to 50 nm; and  projecting soft X-ray light from the mask onto a resist-coated wafer so as to form an image of the pattern on the wafer at a resolution of 70 nm or finer. 15. A method for manufacturing a microelectronic device, comprising: directing a soft-X-ray beam to a mask defining a pattern, the soft X-ray beam having a wavelength within a range of 20 nm to 50 nm; and  passing soft X-ray light from the mask through an imaging-optical system onto a resist-coated wafer so as to form an image of the pattern on the wafer, the imaging-optical system having a numerical aperture of at least 0.15. 16. A method for manufacturing a microelectronic device, comprising: providing an imaging-optical system configured to project a soft X-ray beam, having a wavelength in a range of 20 nm to 50 nm and propagating from a pattern-defining mask, to form an image of the pattern on a substrate, the imaging-optical system being configured to have a numerical aperture of at least 0.15;  after previously applying a patterned layer to a substrate, polishing the substrate and applying a layer of a resist on the polished substrate;  directing a soft X-ray illumination beam to the mask; and  passing soft X-ray light from the mask through the imaging-optical system onto the resist-coated substrate so as to form an image of the pattern on the substrate, the image overlaying the previously applied patterned layer on the substrate.