Patent Number: 063109344
Section: claims

1. An X-ray projection exposure apparatus operating in a vacuum or a reduced-pressure environment, said apparatus comprising: a mask chuck for holding a reflection X-ray mask having a mask pattern thereon in the vacuum or in the reduced pressure environment, a void being formed between the mask and said mask chuck;  a wafer chuck for holding a wafer onto which the mask pattern is transferred;  an X-ray illuminating system for illuminating the reflection X-ray mask, held by said mask chuck, with X-rays;  an X-ray projection optical system for projecting the mask pattern of the reflection X-ray mask onto the wafer held by said wafer chuck with a predetermined magnification; and  supply means for supplying the void formed between the mask and said mask chuck with a cooling gas for cooling the mask.  a chuck base fixing the mask chuck; and  a temperature control mechanism for controlling the temperature of said chuck base.  a mask chuck for holding a reflection X-ray mask having a mask pattern thereon in the vacuum or in the reduced pressure environment, a void being formed between the mask and said mask chuck;  an X-ray illuminating system for illuminating the reflection X-ray mask, held by said mask chuck, with X-rays; and  supply means for supplying the void formed between the mask and the mask chuck with a cooling gas for cooling the mask.  a chuck base fixing the mask chuck; and  a temperature control mechanism for controlling a temperature of said chuck base. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recovering means for recovering the cooling gas. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mask chuck comprises a plurality of projections for supporting the reflection X-ray mask. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a ratio of an area of contact between distal ends of said plurality of projections and the mask to the entire area of the mask is at most 10%. 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of voids are formed between said plurality of projections. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pin-shaped projections formed on said mask chuck. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mask chuck comprises a static electricity generating mechanism for generating static electricity for attracting and holding the reflection X-ray mask by an electrostatic force. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a detection mechanism for detecting an attraction force with which the reflection X-ray mask is held as a result of the electrostatic force generated by said static electricity generating mechanism. 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said chuck base comprises one of a ceramic material and a glass material. 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a grounded earth pawl provided at least at a side of said mask chuck for supporting the reflection X-ray mask. 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflection X-ray mask having an X-ray reflecting multilayer film, and a mask pattern on said reflection X-ray mask made of an absorbing member formed on the X-ray reflecting multilayer film. 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-rays include vacuum-ultraviolet rays or soft X-rays. 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising discharging means for discharging the cooling gas. 15. An X-ray projection exposure apparatus operating in a vacuum or a reduced-pressure environment, said apparatus comprising: 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising recovering means for recovering the cooling gas. 17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said mask chuck comprises a plurality of projections for supporting the reflection X-ray mask. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a ratio of an area of contact between distal ends of said plurality of projections and the mask to the entire area of the mask is at most 10%. 19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of voids are formed between said plurality of projections. 20. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of pin-shaped projections formed on said mask chuck. 21. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said mask chuck comprises a static electricity generating mechanism for generating static electricity for attracting and holding the reflection X-ray mask by an electrostatic force. 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a detection mechanism for detecting an attraction force with which the reflection X-ray mask is held as a result of the electrostatic force generated by said static electricity generating mechanism. 23. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: 24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said chuck base comprises one of a ceramic material and a glass material. 25. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a grounded earth pawl provided at least at a side of said mask chuck for supporting the reflection X-ray mask. 26. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a reflection X-ray mask having an X-ray reflecting multilayer film, and a mask pattern on said reflection X-ray mask made of an absorbing member formed on the X-ray reflecting multilayer film. 27. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the X-rays include vacuum-ultraviolet rays or soft X-rays. 28. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising discharging means for discharging the cooling gas.