Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for inscribing a pattern on a reticle blank to produce a lithography reticle. As a reticle blank is inscribed using a charged particle beam (e.g., electron beam), some of the incident charged particles pass through the reticle blank and are backscattered from underlying structure (e.g., from a stage used to hold the reticle blank during inscription). These backscattered particles reduce the pattern resolution on the reticle. The present apparatus and methods reduce the number of backscattered particles re-entering the reticle blank, thereby improving pattern resolution.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure pertains to microlithography, which involves the transfer of a pattern from a reticle or mask to a “sensitive” substrate. Microlithography is a key technology used in the manufacture of microelectronic devices such as semiconductor integrated circuits, displays, thin-film heads, micromachines, and the like. More specifically, the disclosure pertains to the manufacture of reticles and masks (generally termed “reticles” herein) for use in microlithography performed using a charged particle beam such as an electron beam. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, the progressive miniaturization of microelectronic devices has occurred concurrently with the development of microlithography apparatus that use progressively shorter wavelengths of exposure energy to obtain greater resolution of transferred patterns. In view of the fact that currently achievable lithographic resolution using vacuum ultraviolet wavelengths of light is limited by the diffraction limit of the light, an intensive development effort now is being made to produce the “next-generation” microlithography technology. An important contender is microlithography performed using a charged particle beam such as an ion beam or electron beam. Charged-particle-beam (CPB) microlithography offers prospects of substantially greater pattern-transfer resolution for reasons similar to the reasons for which electron microscopy achieves better resolution than optical microscopy. 
     An advantage of CPB microlithography is that it exhibits less of the image blurring normally accompanying the diffraction phenomenon of light. Currently, electron-beam “direct-write” microlithography apparatus (that imprint a pattern on a substrate without projection from a reticle), are being used for making reticles that, in turn, are used in optical and CPB projection microlithography. Direct-write electron-beam microlithography offers the potential of forming patterns having minute elements that are too small to be formed by optical microlithography, including optical microlithography performed using vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths of light. However, a disadvantage of direct-write electron-beam microlithography is that the currently achievable throughput is low. Hence, this technique mainly is used for making reticles. 
     To improve the throughput of CPB microlithography, considerable development effort is being directed to CPB “projection” microlithography, wherein a pattern-defining reticle is produced in advance and used to define the pattern that is projected (usually with demagnification) from the reticle onto a substrate. 
     Whereas projection optical microlithography currently is the most widely used pattern-transfer technology for making microelectronic devices, limited success has been achieved to date in electron-beam projection lithography (EPL). In conventional EPL systems, the pattern as defined on the reticle is divided into multiple subregions (often termed “subfields”) that are projected one at a time onto the substrate. Such a reticle is termed a “divided” or “segmented” reticle. CPB optical systems have been developed that can project, per “shot,” a subregion area of 0.25 mm square on the substrate, for example. This area is considerably larger than the conventional area of about 5 μm square achieved using, for example, a variable-shaped spot beam. 
     Exemplary types of segmented reticles used in CPB microlithography are depicted in  FIGS. 8(A)–8(C) . A first type of reticle is a “scattering-stencil” reticle  20  as shown in  FIG. 8(A) , comprising a silicon (Si) membrane  21  having a thickness of several micrometers. To support the membrane  21 , the reticle  20  includes an integral grid of support struts  14  (see  FIG. 8(C)  showing the grid). Each support strut has a thickness (dimension “a”) of about 1 mm. The grid of support struts  14  divides the reticle  20  into multiple subregions (subfields)  21   a  each defining a respective portion of the pattern. In each subfield  21   a,  the respective membrane  21  will transmit incident charged particles, but with substantial scattering of the particles as they pass through the membrane. In each subfield  21   a,  respective pattern elements are defined by corresponding through-holes  22  in the respective membrane  21 . 
     Scattering-stencil reticles used for ion-projection lithography (IPL) have a structure substantially the same as scattering-stencil reticles for EPL, except that the membrane  21  has a slightly greater thickness (e.g., approximately 3 μm). 
     A second type of segmented reticle is a “scattering-membrane” reticle  10  as shown in  FIG. 8(B) , comprising a membrane  11  of, e.g., SiN x  or SiC having a thickness from several tens of nm to about 0.1 μm, as described in Japan Kôkai Patent Document No. Hei 2-170410. Scattering-membrane reticles are used, for example, in the well-known SCALPEL microlithography method. Such a membrane is transmissive to incident charged particles, with little to no scattering of particles as they pass through the membrane. To support the membrane  11 , the reticle  10  includes an integral grid of support struts  14  (see  FIG. 8(C)  showing the grid). Each support strut has a thickness (dimension “a”) of about 1 mm. The grid of support struts  14  divides the reticle  10  into multiple subregions (subfields)  11   a  each defining a respective portion of the pattern. The size of the subregions  11   a  (“c” and “d” dimensions in  FIG. 8(C) ) is about 1 mm on each side. Pattern elements are defined by corresponding “scattering bodies”  12  formed from a layer of CPB-scattering material (e.g., tungsten, gold, silver, or tantalum, about 0.2 μm thick) formed on the surface of the membrane  11 . Over the regions of the struts  14  are regions  13  of the scattering material. Another (very recent) configuration of a scattering-membrane reticle comprises a layer of a CPB-scattering material (e.g., Si) disposed on an extremely thin (several tens of nm thick) CPB-transmissive membrane of “diamond-like carbon” (DLC). 
     A persistent problem in CPB projection microlithography is the task of fabricating reticles that define the respective pattern with sufficiently high accuracy.  FIG. 9  depicts a conventional reticle-fabrication apparatus. An electron gun  51  produces a beam  1  of electrons that is deflected, condensed, and irradiated by an electron-optical system  52  onto a reticle blank RB. The reticle blank RB comprises a membrane  4  and a layer  5  of a resist on the upstream-facing surface of the membrane  4 . In addition to the grid of support struts described above (grid not shown in  FIG. 9 ), the reticle blank RB also includes a peripheral support (“frame”)  3  that strengthens the reticle blank RB and facilitates holding of the reticle blank by a stage  2 . The reticle blank RB is held by the stage  2  either mechanically or by electrostatic attraction. (The depicted stage has an upper portion  2 U that mechanically secures the reticle blank RB to a lower portion  2 L of the stage  2 . The upper portion  2 U can be eliminated by configuring the stage  2  to hold the reticle blank RB by electrostatic attraction.) The stage  2  is operable to move the reticle blank RB as required during formation of the pattern on the reticle blank. The pattern irradiated onto the reticle blank RB is configured in advance, and the beam  1  moves according to the pattern to “write” the pattern on the resist  5 . After irradiation of the reticle blank RB is complete, the resist  5  is developed to imprint the image. Using the developed resist as a mask, the reticle blank RB is etched to form the pattern on the reticle. 
     The present inventors attempted to fabricate a reticle according to the protocol set forth in JP Kôkai Patent Document No. Hei 2-170410. A layer of a resist was coated onto the upstream-facing surface of a reticle blank as described above. The reticle blank was exposed using an electron beam accelerated to 50 kV and focused as a “spot beam” to a diameter of several nm to write the pattern directly. Using this protocol, it was not possible to achieve satisfactory formation of resolved pattern elements having a minimum linewidth of 120 nm or less. For comparison, the same resist was coated onto a silicon wafer and the wafer was exposed by electron-beam microlithography using an electron beam accelerated to 50 kV and focused as a “spot beam” having the identical diameter as used to expose the reticle blank. In contrast to the reticle blank, a 70-nm line spacing was achieved with good resolution on the silicon wafer. These results indicated that problems are inherent in conventional reticle-fabrication procedures that prevent the attainment of pattern-element resolution even as good as achievable in a corresponding microlithography procedure performed on a silicon substrate. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the shortcomings of conventional apparatus and methods as summarized above, an object of the claims is, inter alia, to provide reticle-fabrication apparatus and methods that achieve improved resolution of pattern elements than achievable using conventional apparatus and methods. 
     To such end, electron-beam writing apparatus are provided for writing a pattern on a reticle blank to produce a reticle as used for performing lithography. An embodiment of such an apparatus comprises an electron-beam source, an electron-optical system, a stage, and a means for reducing either electron backscattering from downstream structure (e.g., the stage) to the reticle blank or for reducing backscattered-electron exposure of a layer of resist on the surface of the reticle blank. The electron-beam source is configured to produce an electron beam that propagates downstream of the source. The electron-optical system is situated and configured to condense and irradiate the electron beam onto a resist-covered reticle blank and to write the pattern in the resist on the reticle blank. The stage is situated and configured to hold the reticle blank as the reticle blank is being exposed by the electron beam. The stated means is configured to reduce either backscattering of electrons, transmitted through the reticle blank, from the stage (or other structure downstream of the reticle blank) to the reticle blank or to reduce exposure of the resist caused by backscattered electrons. 
     By way of example, the stated means can comprise an electron trap situated downstream of the stage and configured to trap electrons transmitted through the reticle blank and backscattered from the trap or other downstream structure. 
     By way of a second example, the stated means can comprise an electron-absorbing plate situated downstream of the stage. The plate is made of an electron-absorbing material and has a thickness appropriate for trapping and absorbing electrons from the reticle blank that are incident on the plate. As a representative specific example, the plate can comprise a material including carbon, having a density of at least 1.7 g/cm 3 , and a thickness of at least 0.1 mm. 
     By way of yet another example, the stated means can comprise a through-hole defined by a portion of the stage situated downstream of the reticle blank. The through-hole has a diameter and length sufficient to transmit electrons that have passed through the reticle blank. This configuration can further comprise, as part of the stated means, an electron-absorbing plate situated downstream of the through-hole. The electron-absorbing plate desirably is made of an electron-absorbing material and desirably has a thickness appropriate for trapping and absorbing electrons from the reticle blank that are incident on the plate. 
     By way of yet another example, the stated means can comprise a layer of an electrically insulative material situated downstream of the stage. This layer is configured and dimensioned to trap secondary electrons produced by electrons backscattered from material situated downstream of the layer. 
     According to another embodiment, the stated means can comprise features from at least one of the example embodiments summarized above. 
     Yet another embodiment of an electron-beam writing apparatus comprises an electron-beam source and electron-optical system as summarized above. The apparatus also includes a stage situated and configured to hold the reticle blank as the reticle blank is being exposed by the electron beam. The stage comprises a metal surface (desirably non-magnetic) defining multiple micro-recesses divided from one another by a grid of struts. By making the metal surface non-magnetic, it generates no magnetic fields that otherwise would exert undesirable effects during electron-beam inscription of the pattern on the reticle blank. The micro-recesses are configured to capture electrons transmitted through the reticle blank and entering the micro-recesses. Most of the electrons backscattered within the micro-recesses never reach the reticle blank. Thus, fogging exposure of the reticle blank is reduced substantially, allowing more minute pattern elements to be defined on the reticle. Also, the effects of linearity between CD (critical dimension) and the dose amount are improved, thus simplifying CD control. 
     Desirably, the micro-recesses collectively have an area, opening toward the reticle blank, of at least 90% of the entire gridded structure of the reticle blank. With such a configuration, almost all of the electrons that have passed through the reticle blank enter the micro-recesses where, as noted above, most of the electrons are not backscattered toward the reticle blank. 
     Each micro-recess desirably has a depth that is at least 10 times a radius of a circle circumscribed by the micro-recess facing the reticle blank. Such depths improve the reliability of capture of backscattered electrons. 
     Also provided are methods for producing a lithography reticle. According to an embodiment of such a method, a reticle blank is provided. A resist layer is applied to the reticle blank. A pattern is written on the resist layer using an apparatus such as any of those summarized above. The resist is developed and undeveloped portions of the resist are removed. The reticle blank is etched according to a pattern defined in the remaining developed resist. Then, the remaining resist is stripped. 
     The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1(A)  provides plots of respective distributions of electron-beam energy, including the distribution of electron-beam energy on the resist of a reticle blank during the process of fabricating a reticle from the reticle blank using a conventional electron-beam writing method. 
         FIG. 1(B)  is a plot of the distribution of electron-beam energy on the resist of a reticle blank during a process, according to the invention, of fabricating a reticle from the reticle blank by electron-beam writing. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic elevational view of an electron-beam writing apparatus according to the first representative embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic elevational view of an electron-beam writing apparatus according to the second representative embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic elevational view of an electron-beam writing apparatus according to the third representative embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic elevational view of an electron-beam writing apparatus according to the fourth representative embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic plan view of the surface of the chuck used to hold the reticle blank in an electron-beam writing apparatus according to the fifth representative embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is an oblique view showing certain details of a portion of the metal grid of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8(A)  is a schematic elevational section of a portion of a conventional segmented scattering-stencil reticle. 
         FIG. 8(B)  is a schematic elevational section of a portion of a conventional segmented scattering-membrane reticle. 
         FIG. 8(C)  is a schematic oblique view, from below, of a portion of a conventional segmented reticle (which can be a scattering-stencil type or scattering-membrane type, for example), showing especially the support struts and intervening subregions of the reticle. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic elevational view of a conventional electron-beam writing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     General Considerations 
     This invention is based in part on results of studies of problems associated with conventional reticle-fabrication methods and apparatus, as noted above. Such studies revealed that almost all electrons in a 50-kV electron beam pass through a scattering-stencil reticle for electron-beam projection lithography (EPL), especially a reticle having a membrane thickness of approximately 2 μm. (The percentage of electrons passing through the membrane is a function of the acceleration voltage of the beam.) But, as shown in  FIG. 9 , electrons that have passed through the membrane  4  are backscattered by the surface of the downstream portion  2 L of the stage  2  (the surface of the stage  2  usually is made of metal or other electron-scattering material). These backscattered electrons  53  re-enter the membrane  4 . With the surface of the member  2 L being made of metal, more than 50% of the incident electrons backscattered. As a result of backscattering, the electrons re-entering the resist layer  5  have a substantially wider angular distribution than electrons of the beam  1  directly incident on the reticle blank RB. This wider angular distribution results in background exposure of the resist  5  in regions where exposure is not desired, resulting in “fogging” (formation of exposure penumbras around intended pattern elements). Fogging causes loss in pattern resolution on the finished reticle. 
     If the item holding the reticle blank RB is an electrostatic chuck, then the wafer-mounting surface of the chuck typically is made of a suitable dielectric material (e.g., titanium oxide or aluminum oxide) rather than metal. However, suitable dielectrics also cause substantial backscattering of incident electrons, which (similar to the situation involving a metal surface) re-enter the reticle blank and cause fogging exposure. 
     A representative distribution of electron-beam energy in the resist is shown in  FIG. 1(   a ). As can be discerned in the plots, the best positional resolution is achieved by directly incident electrons (see plot connecting the diamonds). The backscattered electrons, upon re-entering the resist, have a very broad positional distribution (see plot connecting the triangles) compared to the directly incident electrons. The summed data yield a plot (see plot connecting the solid circles) that is broader than the plot of directly incident electrons, and including a higher “noise” level. Thus, backscattered electrons re-entering the membrane considerably reduce the contrast and the resolution of the directly written image. 
     The inventors also found that, whenever a resist-coated substrate (e.g., silicon wafer) is exposed directly to an incident electron beam (accelerated, for example, to 50 kV) in the manner of electron-beam microlithography, approximately 20 to 30% of the directly incident electrons are backscattered from the substrate. These backscattered electrons participate in at least partial exposure of respective regions surrounding pattern elements. But, whenever a resist that has been coated onto a reticle blank is exposed to an incident electron beam of the same energy, approximately 50% of the incident electron energy (50 kV) is backscattered from the surface of the stage to the resist. The resulting fogging exposure affects pattern resolution on the reticle. 
     Certain aspects of the invention are directed to, inter alia, reducing these backscattered electrons and controlling their adverse effects during reticle manufacture. 
     The invention is described in the context of representative embodiments, which are not intended to be limiting in any way. 
     First Representative Embodiment 
     This embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 2 , in which components that are similar to those discussed above in connection with  FIG. 9  have the same respective reference numerals. According to this embodiment, an electron trap  31  is provided downstream of the reticle blank RB, and an upper portion  2 U of the stage secures the reticle blank RB to the electron trap  31 . The electron trap  31  comprises a housing  31   a  containing multiple concentric electron-absorbing members  31   b  spaced apart from one another. The housing  31   a , typically made of a suitable metal, is electrically grounded. Electrons that have passed through the reticle blank RB enter the electron trap  31  and are backscattered from the bottom of the housing  31   a  (an example trajectory is that indicated by the reference numeral  32 ). Electrons backscattered at a significant angle (trajectory  32 ) from the incident trajectory enter a space between two adjacent electron-absorbing members  31   b . By substantially reducing the distribution angle of backscattered electrons re-entering the resist  5  from below, this device substantially reduces the size of the exposure penumbra around directly exposed regions in the resist  5 . 
     As an electron trap, the apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  can be made, by creating an electric field within the electron trap  31 , to lock up completely the electron beam entering the trap. This can be done by applying a voltage to specific elements in the electron trap  31  in the manner of a Faraday cup. The apparatus also can be configured to indicate electron-reflection behavior (e.g., backscattered electrons along the trajectory  32  not returning to the membrane  4 ). These additional features can be provided separately or in combination. Electron trapping also can be performed by employing a trajectory-altering magnetic field. 
     Second Representative Embodiment 
     This embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 3 , in which components that are similar to those discussed above in connection with  FIG. 9  have the same respective reference numerals. According to this embodiment a plate  35 , made of an electron-absorbing material, is situated between the reticle blank RB and the lower portion  2 L of the stage  2 . The electron-absorbing material of which the plate  35  is made can be a so-called “light element” that is electrically conductive and that absorbs incident electrons. 
     The plate  35  desirably is 0.1 mm or more thick and is a material that can be planarized to a desired flatness. An especially desirable material is carbon or a material containing substantial amounts of carbon. For example, an especially desirable material is graphite or a material produced by mixing an organic resin with graphite powder, followed by sintering. Graphite is desirable also because it exhibits minimal outgassing in a vacuum, which is important because the reticle-fabrication processes employing an electron beam are performed in a vacuum environment. 
     In any event, since incident electrons  1  are absorbed by the plate  35 , backscattering of electrons that have passed through the membrane  4  is reduced substantially. 
     Third Representative Embodiment 
     This embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 4 , in which components that are similar to those discussed above in connection with  FIG. 9  have the same respective reference numerals. According to this embodiment the lower portion  2 L of the stage  2  defines a through-hole  2 ′ directly below the reticle blank RB. A plate  38  of an electron-absorbing material is situated downstream of the lower portion  2 L of the stage  2 . The plate  38  can be configured similarly to the plate  35  used in the second representative embodiment. 
     This embodiment allows the reticle blank RB to be held directly between the upper portion  2 U and lower portion  2 L of the stage  2 . Also, backscattered electrons are reduced substantially by placing the plate  38  farther from the reticle blank RB than in the second representative embodiment. It is possible to reduce backscattered electrons substantially to zero by placing another plate of an electron-absorbing material at the lower portion of the through-hole  2 ′ so as to extend across the hole (this alternative configuration is not shown in  FIG. 4 , but is readily understood in the context of this and the second representative embodiment). The plate  38  can be eliminated if, in  FIG. 4 , the distance from the reticle blank RB to the location at which the plate  38  otherwise would be placed can be made sufficiently long to prevent most backscattered electrons from returning through the through-hole  2 ′ to the reticle blank RB. 
     Fourth Representative Embodiment 
     This embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 5 , in which components that are similar to those discussed above in connection with  FIG. 9  have the same respective reference numerals. According to this embodiment a layer  41  of an electrically insulative material is disposed in the vicinity of the surface of the lower portion  2 L of the stage  2 . Electrons that have experienced relatively low acceleration are trapped by the insulative layer  41 . Thus, the insulative layer  41  effectively controls secondary-electron constituents of electrons backscattered from the lower portion  2 L. Consequently, the amount of backscattered electrons from the lower portion  2 L is effectively reduced. The distribution of electron energy on the resist, as obtained using any of the first through fourth representative embodiments, is depicted in  FIG. 1(B) . By comparing  FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) , it can be ascertained readily that, with any of these representative embodiments, backscattering and its effects are greatly reduced. 
     EXAMPLE 
     This example is directed to the manufacture of a reticle using the apparatus shown in  FIG. 3  (second representative embodiment). 
     In the apparatus, the plate  35  was made of carbon graphite as a representative “light element.” The reticle blank RB was a Si membrane (2 μm thick) doped with thermally diffused boron to adjust the intrinsic stress of the reticle blank. The pattern (suitable for a reticle for EPL) was written on the reticle blank using an electron beam subjected to an acceleration voltage of 50 kV. The resist was “ZEP520” manufactured by Zeon (Japan) and formed as a layer on the upstream-facing surface of the membrane of the reticle blank. After exposure, the resist was developed, and the reticle blank was etched using the developed resist as a mask. After etching, residual resist was removed by O 2  ashing. The resulting reticle was examined and compared with, as a comparison example, a reticle having the same pattern but fabricated using a conventional apparatus. The pattern had elements measuring 0.2 μm or less. 
     In the comparison example, “critical dimension” (CD) control, in which correlations of design linewidth and actual CD linewidths vary with changes in exposure dose, could not be performed. Also, no resolution could be obtained of pattern elements sized at 0.1 μm or less. In addition, fogging exposure resulted from backscattered electrons produced by the conventional apparatus. Fogging occurred even at doses as low as 10% of the incident energy at the resist pattern. 
     In the reticle according to this example, in contrast, it was possible to execute good CD control for elements sized at 0.1 μm and less, and good resolution was obtained for pattern elements sized at approximately 80 nm. Also, the optimal exposure dose was approximately 10% higher than the optimal exposure dose using the conventional apparatus. 
     Fifth Representative Embodiment 
     A plan view of the structure of the upper surface of the stage, according to this embodiment, used to hold the reticle blank, is shown in  FIG. 6 . The depicted surface is of an electrostatic chuck that holds the reticle blank by electrostatic attraction. The surface includes zones  42  of micro-recesses collectively forming a metal grid  26  (that is electrically grounded during use). 
     A portion of the metal grid  26  is shown in  FIG. 7 . As can be seen, the grid  26  is defined by struts  24  of metal that intersect each other and thus define micro-recesses  25 . The profile of the grid  26  desirably corresponds with a corresponding profile of the grid of support struts of a reticle formed thereon (see  FIG. 8(C) ). Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8(C) , the reticle comprises support struts  14  forming a grid defining multiple subregions  11   a . The grid of struts  14  desirably has the same pitch as and desirably is aligned with the grid  26  formed on the surface of the stage used to hold the reticle blank ( FIG. 7 ). When fabricating a reticle from the reticle blank, pattern writing is performed on the respective membrane portions in each subregion  11   a  of the reticle blank using an electron beam. As the beam writes the respective pattern portion on each membrane portion, the electron beam passing through the respective membrane portion enters the respective micro-recess  25  of the grid  26 . The respective micro-recess  25  collects the incident electrons and conducts them away rather than allowing them to backscatter and reenter the reticle blank. 
     For effective collection of incident electrons, each micro-recess  25  desirably has a depth that is at least 10 times the radius of a circle circumscribed by the respective opening in the grid  26 . Further desirably, the grid  26  is made of a non-magnetic metal such as titanium or magnesium so as to prevent the generation of magnetic fields. 
     Whenever the reticle blank is placed on the metal grid  26 , the struts  24  of the grid  26  desirably are aligned with the struts  14  of the reticle blank. Thus, each subregion  11   a  of the reticle blank is aligned with a respective micro-recess  25 . As a result, electrons incident on the reticle blank for the purpose of writing the reticle pattern and that have passed through the membrane of the reticle blank reliably enter the respective micro-recess  25 . 
     However, such strict alignment of struts is not required. This is because the area of the opening of a micro-recess  25  is much larger than the respective area of the struts in the grid  26 . The collective area of the micro-recesses is 90% or more of the total area of the entire gridded structures  42 . The collective area of the micro-recesses  25  preferably is 99% or more of the area of the gridded structures  42 , but in any event reflects a trade off of ease of manufacturing the gridded structures  42  with performance of the same. 
     Furthermore, neither the subregions  11   a  of the reticle blank nor the micro-recesses  25  need be square in profile. Alternatively, for example, they may be rectangles or other polygonal shape such as triangles or hexagons. 
     As described above, apparatus and methods according to the invention achieve high-precision control of writing critical-dimension (CD) features on reticle blanks for EPL as well as for ion-beam projection lithography (IPL). The methods and apparatus also can be employed for fabricating reticles for X-ray proximity microlithography as well. The subject methods and apparatus are very effective in producing reticles exhibiting greater pattern-element and CD resolution. These reticles can be used for performing microlithography where processing dimensions are becoming progressively more minute each year, and where the MEF (Mask Error Factor) is steadily increasing without changes in reduction projection magnification. In addition, methods and apparatus according to the invention provide substantially increased contrast of resist exposures performed by microlithography. This allows microlithography to be performed reliably on sub-0.1 μm pattern elements. 
     Whereas the invention has been described in connection with multiple representative embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to encompass all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.