Patent Number: 056129866
Section: claims

1. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having minimum image linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a source of partially spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source flux;  providing a layer of X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a membrane that is at least partly transparent to X-rays of wavelength .lambda. and that holds a holographic pattern thereat, between the X-ray source and the X-ray-sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source are transmitted through the substrate toward the selected surface;  determining a hologram, having variable thickness and variable associated transmissivity and optical phase angle, for transmission of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. through the hologram so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by X-rays diffracted by the hologram is the desired X-ray image, with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m, said hologram having a finite number of discrete transmissivity values, where this number is at least two;  positioning the hologram on the membrane; and  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays received by transmission through the hologram to produce the desired X-ray image.  providing a source of partially spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source flux;  providing a layer of X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a membrane that is at least partly transparent to X-rays of wavelength .lambda. and that holds a holographic pattern thereat, between the X-ray source and the X-ray-sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source are transmitted through the substrate toward the selected surface;  determining a hologram, having variable thickness and variable associated transmissivity and optical phase angle, for transmission of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. through the hologram so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by X-rays diffracted by the hologram is the desired X-ray image, with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m;  positioning the hologram on the membrane, wherein the presence of a contaminant or defect of diameter no greater than d' at said hologram is compensated for by the additional steps of:  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays received by transmission through the hologram to produce the desired X-ray image.  providing a source of partially spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source flux;  providing a layer of X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a membrane that is at least partly transparent to X-rays of wavelength .lambda. and that holds a holographic pattern thereat, between the X-ray source and the X-ray-sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source are transmitted through the substrate toward the selected surface;  determining a hologram, having variable thickness h and variable associated transmissivity and optical phase angle, for transmission of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. through the hologram so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by X-rays diffracted by the hologram is the desired X-ray image, with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m;  positioning the hologram on the membrane;  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays received by transmission through the hologram to produce the desired X-ray image; and  further comprising the steps of:  providing a source of partially spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source flux;  providing a layer of X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a membrane that is at least partly transparent to X-rays of wavelength .lambda. and that holds a holographic pattern thereat, between the X-ray source and the X-ray-sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source are transmitted through the substrate toward the selected surface;  determining a hologram, having variable thickness and variable associated transmissivity and optical phase angle, for transmission of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. through the hologram so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by X-rays diffracted by the hologram is the desired X-ray image, with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m;  positioning the hologram on the membrane;  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays received by transmission through the hologram to produce the desired X-ray image; and  wherein the step of determining said hologram further comprises the steps of:  providing a source of plane wave, approximately spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source brightness;  providing a layer of the X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a substrate that holds a holographic pattern thereat, approximately between the X-ray source and the X-ray sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source and received by the substrate are reflected and diffracted toward and received by the selected surface;  determining a hologram having variable associated optical phase angle, for reflection of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. from an X-ray-receiving surface of the hologram, so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by diffraction of X-rays by the hologram is the desired X-ray image, with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m;  positioning the hologram on the substrate;  wherein said steps of providing and positioning said hologram comprises the step of providing each of a plurality of selected regions on said substrate with a transmissivity value chosen from a finite number of discrete transmissivity values, where this number is at least two; and  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays reflected from the hologram.  providing a source of plane wave, approximately spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source brightness;  providing a layer of the X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a substrate that holds a holographic pattern thereat, approximately between the X-ray source and the X-ray sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source and received by the substrate are reflected and diffracted toward and received by the selected surface;  determining a hologram having variable associated optical phase angle, for reflection of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. from an X-ray-receiving surface of the hologram, so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by diffraction of X-rays by the hologram is the desired X-ray image with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m;  positioning the hologram on the substrate, wherein the presence of a contaminant or defect of diameter no greater than d' at said hologram is compensated for by the additional steps of:  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays reflected from the hologram.  providing a source of plane wave, approximately spatially coherent X-rays, having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. and having a flux at least equal to a predetermined source brightness;  providing a layer of the X-ray-sensitive material with a selected surface to receive an X-ray image thereat;  positioning a substrate that holds a holographic pattern thereat, approximately between the X-ray source and the X-ray-sensitive material so that X-rays produced by the X-ray source and received by the substrate are reflected and diffracted toward and received by the selected surface;  determining a hologram having variable associated optical phase angle, for reflection of X-rays of wavelength .lambda. from an X-ray-receiving surface of the hologram, so that, when the hologram is irradiated by the X-ray source, the X-ray image produced at the selected surface by diffraction of X-rays by the hologram is the desired X-ray image, with X-ray image minimum linewidths no greater than 0.25 .mu.m;  positioning the hologram on the substrate;  wherein the step of determining said hologram further comprises the steps of:  irradiating the selected surface with X-rays reflected from the hologram. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said discrete transmissivity values by providing said hologram with a finite number of discrete thicknesses of material. 3. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having minimum image linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: 4. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having minimum image linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: 5. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having minimum image linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: 6. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having image minimum linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: 7. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having image minimum linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: 8. A method of forming a desired X-ray image, having image minimum linewidths no greater than s=0.25 .mu.m, on a selected surface of X-ray-sensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: