Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system comprising: a light source for generating a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band;  a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  an illumination optical system for irradiating said reflecting mask with said soft X-ray beam;  a reduction projection optical system for imaging said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  controlling means for controlling a partial pressure of a gas of a carbon compound to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x928  Pa or less in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 2. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 1 , claim 1 wherein said controlling means reduces a pressure in at least one of said first region, said second region and said third region individually. 3. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 1 , claim 1 wherein said controlling means controls a total pressure to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of the gas of said carbon compound is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x928  Pa or less among said first region, said second region and said third region. 4. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 1 , claim 1 wherein said carbon compound is any of a hydrocarbon such as methane, ethane or propane, a straight-chain organic substance such as isopropyl alcohol or polymethyl methacrylate and a cyclic organic substance such as benzene or phthalate. 5. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system comprising: a light source for generating a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band;  a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  an illumination optical system for irradiating said reflecting mask with said soft X-ray beam;  a reduction projection optical system for imaging said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  capturing means for capturing a carbon compound generated in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 6. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 5 , claim 5 wherein said capturing means is a filter cooled with liquid helium or liquid nitrogen. 7. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 5 , claim 5 wherein said capturing means captures said carbon compound in at least one of said first region, said second region and said third region individually. 8. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 5 , claim 5 wherein said carbon compound is any of a hydrocarbon such as methane, ethane or propane, a straight-chain organic substance such as isopropyl alcohol or polymethyl methacrylate and a cyclic organic substance such as benzene or phthalate. 9. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system comprising: a light source for generating a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band;  a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  an illumination optical system for irradiating said reflecting mask with said soft X-ray beam;  a reduction projection optical system for imaging said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  controlling means for controlling a partial pressure of an oxygen gas to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 10. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 9 , claim 9 wherein said controlling means controls a total pressure to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of said oxygen gas is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa among said first region, said second region and said third region. 11. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system comprising: a light source for generating a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band;  a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  an illumination optical system for irradiating said reflecting mask with said soft X-ray beam;  a reduction projection optical system for imaging said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  controlling means for controlling a partial pressure of an ozone gas to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 12. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure system of  claim 11 , claim 11 wherein said controlling means controls a total pressure to be 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of said ozone gas is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa among said first region, said second region and said third region. 13. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  a controlling step of controlling a partial pressure of a gas of a carbon compound to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x928  Pa or less in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 14. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 13 , claim 13 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of reducing a pressure in at least one of said first region, said second region and said third region individually. 15. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 13 , claim 13 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of controlling a total pressure to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of the gas of said carbon compound is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x928  Pa or less among said first region, said second region and said third region. 16. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 13 , claim 13 wherein said carbon compound is any of a hydrocarbon such as methane, ethane or propane, a straight-chain organic substance such as isopropyl alcohol or polymethyl methacrylate, and a cyclic organic substance such as benzene or phthalate. 17. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  a capturing step of capturing a carbon compound generated in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 18. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 17 , claim 17 wherein the capturing step includes a sub-step of capturing said carbon compound by using a filter cooled with liquid helium or liquid nitrogen. 19. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 17 , claim 17 wherein the capturing step includes a sub-step of capturing said carbon compound in at least one of said first region, said second region and said third region individually. 20. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 17 , claim 17 wherein said carbon compound is any of a hydrocarbon such as methane, ethane or propane, a straight-chain organic substance such as isopropyl alcohol or polymethyl methacrylate, and a cyclic organic substance such as benzene or phthalate. 21. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  a controlling step of controlling a partial pressure of an oxygen gas to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 22. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 21 , claim 21 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of controlling a total pressure to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of said oxygen gas is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa among said first region, said second region and said third region. 23. A soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a wafer; and  a controlling step of controlling a partial pressure of an ozone gas to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 24. The soft X-ray reduction projection exposure method of  claim 23 , claim 23 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of controlling a total pressure to be 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of said oxygen gas is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa among said first region, said second region and said third region. 25. A pattern formation method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a resist film;  a step of forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film on which said pattern of said reflecting mask has been imaged; and  a controlling step of controlling a partial pressure of a gas of a carbon compound to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x928  Pa or less in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 26. The pattern formation method of  claim 25 , claim 25 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of reducing a pressure in at least one of said first region, said second region and said third region individually. 27. The pattern formation method of  claim 25 , claim 25 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of controlling a total pressure to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of the gas of said carbon compound is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x928  Pa or less among said first region, said second region and said third region. 28. The pattern formation method of  claim 25 , claim 25 wherein said carbon compound is any of a hydrocarbon such as methane, ethane or propane, a straight-chain organic substance such as isopropyl alcohol or polymethyl methacrylate, and a cyclic organic substance such as benzene or phthalate. 29. A pattern formation method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a resist film;  a step of forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film on which said pattern of said reflecting mask has been imaged; and  a capturing step of capturing a carbon compound generated in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 30. The pattern formation method of  claim 29 , claim 29 wherein the capturing step includes a sub-step of capturing said carbon compound by using a filter cooled with liquid helium or liquid nitrogen. 31. The pattern formation method of  claim 29 , claim 29 wherein the capturing step includes a sub-step of capturing said carbon compound in at least one of said first region, said second region and said third region individually. 32. The pattern formation method of  claim 29 , claim 29 wherein said carbon compound is any of a hydrocarbon such as methane, ethane or propane, a straight-chain organic substance such as isopropyl alcohol or polymethyl methacrylate, and a cyclic organic substance such as benzene or phthalate. 33. A pattern formation method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a resist film;  a step of forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film on which said pattern of said reflecting mask has been imaged; and  a controlling step of controlling a partial pressure of an oxygen gas to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 34. The pattern formation method of  claim 33 , claim 33 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of controlling a total pressure to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of said oxygen gas is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x921  Pa among said first region, said second region and said third region. 35. A pattern formation method comprising: a step of introducing, by an illumination optical system, a soft X-ray beam of a wavelength of a 4 through 20 nm band to a reflecting mask on which a desired pattern is formed;  a step of imaging, by a reduction projection optical system, said pattern of said reflecting mask on a resist film;  a step of forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film on which said pattern of said reflecting mask has been imaged; and  a controlling step of controlling a partial pressure of an ozone gas to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa in at least one of a first region where said illumination optical system is disposed, a second region where said reflecting mask is disposed and a third region where said reduction projection optical system is disposed. 36. The pattern formation method of  claim 35 , claim 35 wherein the controlling step includes a sub-step of controlling a total pressure to be 4.00xc3x9710 xe2x88x922  Pa or less in any region where said partial pressure of said oxygen gas is controlled to be 1.33xc3x9710 xe2x88x924  Pa through 4.00xc3x9710 31 2  Pa among said first region, said second region and said third region.