Patent Publication Number: US-2009230594-A1

Title: Imprint method and mold

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an imprint method in which, a mold having a fine indented surface is irradiated with electromagnetic waves, and the fine indented shape is transferred to a to-be-transferred object, and to a mold used in the imprint method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, research and development for devices having fine structures processed with the use of nanometer-order processing technology are actively carried out. Nanoimprint technology is a method in which a mold having a size of nanometers is pressed to a substrate which is a to-be-transferred object, and a pattern of the mold is transferred to the substrate. This method has high productivity, and cost reduction is made possible. 
     In the nanoimprint technology, a thermal nanoimprint method and an optical nanoimprint method are mainstream methods. However, a laser-assisted direct t imprint method, i.e., a LADI method has been proposed as a method which is suitable to carry out high resolution and high-speed processing. According to the LADI method, a mold in which a predetermined pattern is formed on molten quartz is made to come into contact with and is pressed onto a silicon substrate, and, with this state being maintained, XeCl excimer laser pulses are irradiated with. At this time, melting and liquefaction occur on a surface of the silicon substrate, and as a result, the predetermined pattern is transferred to the silicon substrate. Further, it has been suggested that, on the silicon substrate surface, a semiconductor material, a metal, an alloy, a polymer, or a ceramic may be formed. For the technologies, see Stephan Y. Chou et al., Appl. Phys. Lett, Vol. 67, Issue 21, pp. 3114-3116 (1995), and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-521243. 
     However, the LADI method having been proposed has the following problems. That is, first, when a substrate made of a material which transmits laser light for irradiation having a predetermined wavelength is used, almost all of the laser light is transmitted by the substrate. As a result, a heat amount required for melting and liquefying the substrate surface may not be generated, and thus, transfer of a pattern of a mold may not be achieved. That is, the LADI method may not be used for a substrate made of a material which transmits laser light for irradiation. 
     It is noted that, according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-521243 mentioned above, it is suggested to form a semiconductor material, a metal, an alloy, a polymer or a ceramic on a substrate surface. However, the prior art document is silent for the purpose of forming such a material, and a specific method to solve the above-mentioned problem. Further, such a material formed on a substrate surface should be basically removed, and an extra process may occur therefor, and production cost may increase accordingly. Thus a method to form a material on the substrate surface may be disadvantageous. 
     Second, when a mold made of a material which does not transmit laser light of a predetermined wavelength for irradiation is used, the laser light is absorbed by the mold, and thus, a substrate surface may not be molten and liquefied. That is, only a mold which is made of a material which transmits laser light for irradiation may be used in the LADI method. 
     Other then these, since an excimer laser is a gas laser, stability when used for a long term may be problematic, and maintenance may be required. Further, a direction in which laser light is irradiated with is limited to a direction from the side of a mold made of a material which transmits laser light of a predetermined wavelength. Therefore, design freedom may be degraded. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been devised in consideration of the problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imprint method of higher practicability, by which, the problems in the LADI method can be solved. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mold by which an imprint method of higher practicability can be realized. 
     According to the present invention, an imprint method of, in a state in which an indented surface of a mold comes in contact with a to-be-transferred surface of a to-be-transferred object, irradiating with electromagnetic waves to soften the to-be-transferred surface, and transferring an indented shape of the indented surface of the mold to the to-be-transferred surface, includes a heating layer forming step of forming, on the indented surface, a heating layer which absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat; and a softening step of irradiating the heating layer with the electromagnetic waves, through the mold or the to-be-transferred object, at least one of the mold and the to-be-transferred object being made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, causing the heating layer to generate heat, and softening the to-be-transferred surface. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an imprint method of, in a state in which an indented surface of a mold comes in contact with a to-be-transferred surface of a to-be-transferred object, irradiating with electromagnetic waves to soften the to-be-transferred surface, and transferring an indented shape of the indented surface to the to-be-transferred surface, includes a heating layer forming step of forming, on the to-be-transferred surface, a heating layer which absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat; and a softening step of irradiating the heating layer with the electromagnetic waves, through the mold or the to-be-transferred object, at least one of the mold and the to-be-transferred object being made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, causing the heating layer to generate heat, and softening the to-be-transferred surface. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a mold includes an indented surface used in an imprint method in which electromagnetic waves are used, and a heating layer formed on the indented surface, wherein the heating layer absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  depict schematic views illustrating an imprint method according to a first mode for carrying out the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a relationship between an electromagnetic wave ( 14 ) absorbing amount, thermal conductivity and a film thickness of a heating layer  12 , and a heat quantity generated by the heating layer  12 ; 
         FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  depict schematic views illustrating a both-side imprint method according to a second mode for carrying out the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view which illustrates a general shape of a mold  41  used in an embodiment 1 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view which illustrates the general shape of the mold  41  used in the embodiment 1 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a bonded sample  46 ; 
         FIG. 17  depicts interference colors on an indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  and a to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of a to-be-transferred object  43 ; 
         FIG. 18  depicts a full light quantity signal  47 , a trigger signal  48  and a push-pull signal  49  when tracking servo is turned off; 
         FIG. 19  depicts the full light quantity signal  47 , trigger signal  48  and push-pull signal  49  when tracking servo is turned on; 
         FIG. 20  is a photomicrograph of a hologram sheet which is a mold  51 ; 
         FIG. 21  is an AFM image depicting an indented state on the hologram sheet which is the mold  51 ; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a bonded sample  56 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a photomicrograph of a to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of a to-be-transferred object  53 ; 
         FIG. 24  is an AFM image depicting the to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of the to-be-transferred object  53 ; 
         FIGS. 25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30  and  31  depict schematic views illustrating an imprint method according to a third mode for carrying out the present invention; 
         FIG. 32  schematically illustrates a relationship between an electromagnetic wave ( 114 ) absorbing amount, thermal conductivity and a film thickness of a heating layer  112 , and a heat quantity generated by the heating layer  112 ; 
         FIGS. 33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  depict schematic views illustrating a both-side imprint method according to a fourth mode for carrying out the present invention; 
         FIG. 40  is a plan view which illustrates a general shape of a mold  143  used in an embodiment 12 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 41  is a sectional view which illustrates the general shape of the mold  143  used in the embodiment 12 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 42  illustrates a bonded sample  146 ; 
         FIG. 43  depicts a full light quantity signal  147 , a trigger signal  148  and a push-pull signal  149  when tracking servo is turned off; 
         FIG. 44  depicts the full light quantity signal  147 , trigger signal  148  and push-pull signal  149  when tracking servo is turned on; 
         FIG. 45  is a photomicrograph of a hologram sheet which is a mold  153 ; 
         FIG. 46  is an AFM image depicting an indented state on the hologram sheet which is the mold  153 ; 
         FIG. 47  illustrates a bonded sample  156 ; 
         FIG. 48  is a photomicrograph of a to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of a to-be-transferred object  151 ; 
         FIG. 49  is an AFM image depicting the to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of the to-be-transferred object  151 ; 
         FIG. 50  is a photomicrograph of a texture structure formed on a surface of a quartz substrate which is a mold; and 
         FIG. 51  illustrates a light transmission spectrum of a to-be-transferred object  141  to which the texture structure has been transferred. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       11 ,  21 ,  41 ,  51 ,  113 ,  123 ,  143 ,  153  mold 
       11   a,    21   a,    21   b,    41   a,    51   a,    113   a,    123   a,    123   b,    143   a,    153   a  indented surface of mold 
       12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42 ,  52 ,  112 ,  122 ,  132 ,  142 ,  152  heating layer 
       13 ,  23 ,  33 ,  43 ,  53 ,  63 ,  111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  141 ,  151 ,  161  to-be-transferred object 
       13   a,    23   a,    33   a,    43   a,    53   a,    63   a,    111   a,    121   a,    131   a,    141   a,    151   a,    161   a  to-be-transferred surface of to-be-transferred object 
       14 ,  24 ,  114 ,  124  electromagnetic waves 
       41   b,    43   b  interference colors 
       45 ,  145  groove 
       46 ,  56 ,  146 ,  156  bonded sample 
       47 ,  147  full light quantity signal 
       48 ,  148  trigger signal 
       49 ,  149  push-pull signal 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Below, with reference to figures, modes for carrying out the present inventions will be described. 
     &lt;First Mode for Carrying out the Present Invention&gt; 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , an imprint method according to a first mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.  FIGS. 1-6  schematically illustrate the imprint method according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention. In  FIGS. 1-6 ,  11  represents a mold,  12  represents a heating layer,  13  represents a to-be-transferred object, and  14  represents electromagnetic waves. Further,  11   a  represents an indented surface of the mold  11 , and  13   a  represents a to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object  13 . 
     First, in a process depicted in  FIG. 1 , i.e., a mold forming process, the mold  11  having the indented surface  11   a  is formed. The indented surface  11   a  is a surface including a nanometer-scale indented pattern, for example. As a material of the mold  11 , for example, a molding material or such commonly used for a nanoimprint method may be used, for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, a metal material typified by Ni, Ta or such, may be used. The indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11  may be formed in a FIB (i.e., Focused Ion Beam) process or such. The FIB process is such that, as well-known, a Ga (i.e., gallium) ion beam which is sufficiently narrowed is used, and a complicate shape can be formed with an accuracy of a submicron level. 
     Next, in a process depicted in  FIG. 2 , i.e., a heating layer forming process, a heating layer  12  is formed on the indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11 . The heating layer  12  is made of a heating material which, in a process depicted in  FIG. 4  later, absorbs electromagnetic waves  14  which are irradiated with through the mold  11  or the to-be-transferred object  13 , which is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 , and generates such a heat amount to be able to soften the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13 . 
     The heat amount generated by the heating layer  12  is adjusted by means of an electromagnetic wave  14  absorbing amount and heat conductivity of the material of the heating layer  12  and a film thickness of the heating layer  12 .  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a relationship between the electromagnetic wave  14  absorbing amount, the heat conductivity and the film thickness of the heating layer  12 , and the heat amount generated by the heating layer  12 . In  FIG. 7 , an area of an oblique line part defined by a triangle corresponds to the heat amount. By optimizing a balance between the electromagnetic wave  14  absorbing amount, the heat conductivity and the film thickness of the heating layer  12  with respect to the to-be-transferred object  13  to which the indented pattern of the indented surface  11   a  is transferred, it is possible to satisfactorily transfer the indented shape of the indented surface  11   a.    
     For example, a material having predetermined electromagnetic wave  14  absorbing amount and predetermined heat conductivity is selected, and an optimum film thickness of the heating layer  12  is determined such that the heating layer  12  generates the necessary heat amount in consideration of the predetermined electromagnetic wave  14  absorbing amount and the predetermined heat conductivity. The absorbing amount and heat conductivity may preferably fall within respective ranges of, for example, on the order of 50 through 100% and 20 through 400 W/m/k. 
     As a material of the heating layer  12 , a material, which has satisfactory releasability from the to-be-transferred object  13  and also, generates heat in the same degree also when irradiation of electromagnetic waves  14  is carried out a plurality of times, is preferable. Specifically, any one of Si and Ge which are semiconductors, Sn, Sb and Bi which are semimetals, Cu, Au, Pt and Pd which are precious metals and so forth, Zn, Ni, Co and Cr which are transition metals, and alloys thereof, carbides typified by SiC, TiC and so forth, ceramics such as oxygen deficiency oxide typified by SiOx, GeOx and so forth, and so forth, is preferable. Further, it is preferable that a material of the heating layer  12  includes a phase change material. Since the phase change material has large electromagnetic wave  14  absorbing amount and heat generating amount, it is possible to reduce an optimum film thickness of the heating layer  12  to generate the necessary heat amount, and thus, it is possible to improve productivity. 
     As the phase change material, one may be appropriately selected from materials used as materials of recording layers of rewritable-type optical recording media. For example, it is preferable to use a material which includes one or more elements selected from Sb, Ge, Ga, In, Zn, Mn, Sn, Ag, Mg, Ca, Ag, Bi, Se and Te. As the phase change material, a desired material may be used in consideration of a thermal characteristic and an optical chrematistic. A GeSbTe alloy, an AgInSbTe alloy, an AgInSbTeGe alloy, a GaSbSnGe alloy, GeSbSnMn alloy, a GeInSbTe alloy, a GeSbSnTe alloy and so forth are preferable. 
     Further, the heating layer  12  may have a configuration of not only a single layer but also a plurality of layers which are laminated together. By using such a configuration of a plurality of layers, which is referred to as a multi-layer configuration, it is possible to adjust not only a heating amount but also temperature maintaining, a cooling speed and so forth. Thus, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. Further, by selecting a material which can be used a plurality of times as a material of the heating layer  12 , the mold  11  can be used a plurality of times. Further, by providing the heating layer  12  on the mold  11 , it is possible to avoid adhesion of a heating material to the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13 . Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the to-be-transferred surface  13   a.    
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 3 , protruding portions of the heating layer  12  formed on the indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11  are made to come into contact with the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13 . As a material of the to-be-transferred object  13 , for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a material which is used as a so-called substrate, such as Si, may be used. The above-mentioned to come in contact with is carried out in such a manner that the mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  are pressed to one another strongly by an external pressure. Specifically, a special pressing machine may be used to press by mechanical force. However, it is preferable to use a vacuum adsorption method in which a vacuum is formed between the heating layer  12  and the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13 , and thus, an external atmospheric pressure is used to press the heating layer  12  and the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  together. 
     The vacuum adsorption method can be carried out with the use of a general-purpose apparatus, and it is easy to maintain an adsorption state. Further, even when the mold  11  or the to-be-transferred object  13  does not have high mechanical strength, it is possible to obtain such a pressing force which is minimum so that the mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  can be prevented from being broken. By using vacuum adsorption, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. Vacuum adsorption can be carried out with the use of an existing vacuum bonding machine which is used to bond two substrates for forming a DVD-ROM which is a well-known optical recording medium in a vacuum state in which no gas which may cause voids exists. 
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 4 , i.e., a softening process, the heating layer  12  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14  through the mold  11  or the to-be-transferred object  13 , which is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 . Thereby, the heating layer  12  is made to generate heat, and therewith, the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  is softened. The mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  are strongly pressed to one another through the heating layer  12 , for example, by means of vacuum adsorption, as mentioned above. Therefore, when the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  is thus softened as a result of the heating layer  13  generating heat which is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14 , the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  changes in its shape according to an indented shape of the indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11 . It is noted that, a melting point or a softening point of the material of the mold  11  should be equal to or higher than a melting point or a softening point of the material of the to-be-transferred object  13 . 
     At least one of the mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  should be made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 . When the mold  11  is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 , (a), the heating layer  12  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14  through the mold  11 . When the to-be-transferred object  13  is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 , (b), the heating layer  12  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14  through the to-be-transferred object  13 . Further, when both the mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  14 , either the heating layer  12  may be irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14  through the mold  11  as depicted in  FIG. 4 , (a), or the heating layer  12  may be irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14  through the to-be-transferred object  13  as depicted in  FIG. 4 , (b). 
     A wavelength of the electromagnetic waves  14  may be preferably equal to or shorter than 2000 nm. When a wavelength is longer than 2000 nm, there are few heating materials which sufficiently absorb the electromagnetic waves. Laser light is most preferable as the electromagnetic waves  14 . This is because, when laser light is used, it is possible to increase light intensity per unit area, i.e., energy density, on the heating layer  12 . Further, as a laser which emits laser light, a semiconductor laser is especially preferable. In fact, the semiconductor laser is small-sized, can be easily maintained, is inexpensive and has a long life. 
     In the softening process depicted in  FIG. 4 , it is preferable to carry out a focusing process in which the electromagnetic waves  14  emitted by a light source are focused on the hearting layer  12 . By carrying out the focusing process, it is possible to efficiently carry out irradiation with the electromagnetic waves  14 . Further, it is preferable to carry out focus servo control in the focusing process when the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  14 , or the mold  11  and to-be-transferred object  13 , or both, are two-dimensionally moved. By carrying out the focus servo control, it is possible to cancel mechanical errors and positively focus the electromagnetic waves  14  on the heating layer  12 . Thus, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. 
     The above-mentioned case where the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  14 , or the mold  11  and to-be-transferred object  13 , or both, are two-dimensionally moved, will now be described. Such a case is a case where, for example, in an embodiment 1 described later or such, the electromagnetic waves  14  are irradiated with, while, the mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  which are pressed to one another by means of vacuum adsorption are placed on a turn table and are rotated. The focus servo may be carried out in a well-known method, which is commonly used when laser light is made to follow and is focused on a rotated optical recording medium when information is recorded to or reproduced from the optical recording medium. 
     Next, in a process, i.e., a releasing process, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , the mold  11  is removed from the to-be-transferred object  13 , and thus, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the indented shape of the indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11  is transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13 . 
     In an imprint method of the related art, a to-be-transferred surface of a to-be-transferred object made of a material which does not transmit electromagnetic waves is irradiated with electromagnetic waves through a mold which transmits the electromagnetic waves. Thus, the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object is softened, and an indented shape of an indented surface of the mold is transferred to the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object. That is, in the related art, a material of the mold is limited to a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, and a material of the to-be-transferred object is limited to a material which does not transmit the electromagnetic waves (i.e., a material which absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat). 
     In the imprint method according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention, the heating layer  12  which absorbs the electromagnetic waves  14  and generates heat is formed on the indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11 , the heating layer  12  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14 , the heating layer  12  is thus made to generate heat, whereby the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  is softened. Therefore, at least any one of the mold  11  and the to-be-transferred object  13  should be made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 . 
     That is, in the imprint method according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention, not only a combination of a mold made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves and a to-be-transferred object made of a material which does not transmit the electromagnetic waves used in the imprint method in the related art, but also another combination of a mold made of a material which does not transmit electromagnetic waves and a to-be-transferred object made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves may be used. Also, further another combination of a mold made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves and a to-be-transferred object made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, may be used. Thus, it is possible to provide an imprint method which has highly practicablilty. 
     Further, in the mold  11  according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention, the heating layer  12  which absorbs the electromagnetic waves  14  and generates heat is formed on the indented surface  11   a  of the mold  11 , the heating layer  12  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  14 , the heating layer  12  is thus made to generate heat, whereby the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  is softened. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the indented shape of the indented surface  11   a,  also to the to-be-transferred surface  13   a  of the to-be-transferred object  13  made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  14 . 
     &lt;Second Mode for Carrying Out the Present Invention&gt; 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 through 13 , an imprint method in a second mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. The imprint method in the second mode for carrying out the present invention is different from the imprint method in the first mode for carrying out the present invention in that, in the second mode for carrying out the present invention, a mold having two indented surfaces is used, and indented shapes of the two indented surfaces are transferred to to-be-transferred surfaces of two to-be-transferred objects. 
       FIGS. 8-13  schematically illustrate the imprint method according to the second mode for carrying out the present invention. In  FIGS. 8-13 ,  21  represents a mold,  22  and  32  represent heating layers,  23  and  33  represent to-be-transferred objects, and  24  represents electromagnetic waves. Further,  21   a  and  21   b  represent indented surfaces of the mold  21 , and  23   a  and  33   a  represent to-be-transferred surfaces of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 . 
     First, in a process depicted in  FIG. 8 , i.e., a mold forming process, the mold  21  having the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  is formed. The indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  are surfaces including nanometer-scale indented patterns for example. As a material of the mold  21 , for example, a molding material or such commonly used for a nanoimprint method may be used, for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a metal material typified by Ni, Ta or such, may be used. A material having a form of a film is especially preferable. The indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21  may be formed by means of a FIB (i.e., Focused Ion Beam) process or such. The FIB process is such that, as well-known, a Ga (i.e., gallium) ion beam which is sufficiently narrowed is used, and a complicate shape can be formed with an accuracy of a submicron level. 
     Next, in a process depicted in  FIG. 9 , i.e., a heating layer forming process, the heating layers  22  and  32  are formed on the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21 . The heating layers  22  and  32  are made of heating materials which, in a process depicted in  FIG. 11  later, absorb the electromagnetic waves  24 , which are irradiated with through the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , which are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  24 , and generates such a heat amount to be able to soften to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 . Adjustment of a heat amount to be generated from the heating layers  22  and  32 , materials of the heating layers  22  and  33 , and so forth, are the same as those of the heating layer  12  used in the imprint method according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention, and duplicate description will be omitted. 
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 10 , protruding portions of the heating layers  22  and  32  formed on the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21  are made to come into contact with the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 . As materials of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a material which is used as a so-called substrate, such as Si, may be used. The above-mentioned to come in contact with is carried out in such a manner that the mold  21  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  are pressed to one another strongly by an external pressure. Specifically, a special pressing machine may be used to press the members with mechanical force. However, it is preferable to use a vacuum adsorption method in which a vacuum is formed between each of the heating layers  22  and  32  and the respective one of the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , and thus, an external atmospheric pressure is used to press the heating layers  22  and  32  and the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  to each other. Because the vacuum adsorption is the same as that used in the imprint method according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention, duplicate description will be omitted. 
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 11 , i.e., a softening process, each of the heating layers  22  and  32  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  24  through each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , which are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  24 . Thereby, the heating layers  22  and  32  are made to generate heat, and thus, the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  are softened. The mold  21  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  are strongly pressed to one another through each of the heating layers  22  and  32 , for example, by means of vacuum adsorption. Therefore, when the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  are thus softened as a result of the heating layers  22  and  32  generating heat by means of the electromagnetic waves  24  being irradiated with, the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred object  23  and  33  change in their shapes according to the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21 . It is noted that, a melting point or a softening point of the material of the mold  21  is equal to or higher than a melting point or a softening point of the material of each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 . 
     Both to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  should be made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  24 . The heating layers  22  and  32  may be irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  24  through the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  one by one in sequence. However, by irradiating the heating layers  22  and  32  with the electromagnetic waves  24  from both sides of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  simultaneously, productivity can be improved. As a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves  24 , and so forth, are the same as those in the case of the imprint method according to the first mode for carrying out the present invention, duplicate description will be omitted. 
     In the softening process depicted in  FIG. 11 , it is preferable to carry out a focusing process in which the electromagnetic waves  24  emitted by a light source are focused on the hearting layers  22  and  32 . By carrying out the focusing process, it is possible to efficiently carry out irradiation with the electromagnetic waves  24 . Further, it is preferable to carry out focus servo control in the focusing process when the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  24 , or the mold  21  and the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , or both, are two-dimensionally moved. By carrying out the focus servo control, it is possible to cancel mechanical errors and positively focus the electromagnetic waves  24  on the heating layers  22  and  32 . Thus, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. 
     The above-mentioned case where the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  24 , or the mold  21  and the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , or both, are two-dimensionally moved, will now be described. Such a case is a case where, for example, in an embodiment 1 described later or such, the electromagnetic waves  24  are irradiated with, while, the mold  21  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  which are pressed to one another by means of vacuum adsorption are placed on a turn table and are rotated. The focus servo control may be carried out in a well-known method which is one used when laser light is made to follow and is focused on a rotated optical recording medium, when information is recorded to or reproduced from the optical recording medium. 
     It is noted that, in a case where the electromagnetic waves  24  are irradiated with from both sides of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  simultaneously, while, the mold  21  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  which are pressed to one another by means of vacuum adsorption are placed on a turn table and are rotated, a mechanism which is different from an information recording/reforming apparatus in the prior art is required, such that, for example, two optical heads are provided on both sides of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 . However, such a mechanism may be prepared within a scope of the prior art. 
     Next, in a process, i.e., a releasing process, as depicted in  FIG. 12 , the mold  21  is released from each of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , and thus, as depicted in  FIG. 13 , the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21  are transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 , respectively. 
     In an imprint method in the related art, a to-be-transferred surface of a to-be-transferred object made of a material which does not transmit electromagnetic waves is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves through a mold which transmits the electromagnetic waves. Thus, the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object is softened, and an indented shape of an indented surface of the mold is transferred to the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object. That is, in the related art, a material of the mold is limited to a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, and a material of the to-be-transferred object is limited to a material which does not transmit the electromagnetic waves (i.e., a material which absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat). Therefore, in the related art, it is not possible to perform an imprint method from both sides of to-be-transferred objects which come into contact with a mold on both sides. 
     In the imprint method according to the second mode for carrying out the present invention, the heating layers  22  and  32  which absorb the electromagnetic waves  24  and generate heat are formed on the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21 , the heating layers  22  and  32  are irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  24 , the heating layers  22  and  32  are thus made to generate heat, whereby the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  24  are softened. Thus, the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21  are transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33 . 
     That is, in the imprint method according to the second mode for carrying out the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  which are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  24  can be used, and thus, the imprint method (i.e., a both-side imprint method) having higher practicability can be provided. Further, in the imprint method according to the second mode for carrying out the present invention, it is possible to provide the imprint method (i.e., the both-side imprint method) which is of a high speed and has improved productivity. 
     Further, in the mold  21  according to the second mode for carrying out the present invention, the heating layers  22  and  32  which absorb the electromagnetic waves  24  and generate heat are formed on the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  of the mold  21 , the heating layers  22  and  32  are irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  24 , the heating layers  22  and  32  are thus made to generate heat, whereby the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  are softened. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  21   a  and  21   b  also to the to-be-transferred surfaces  23   a  and  33   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  23  and  33  made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  14 . 
     Thus, by the first and second modes for carrying out the present invention, it is possible to solve the problems in the LADI method, and to provide an imprint method of higher practicability. Further, it is possible to provide a mold by which an imprint method of higher practicability can be achieved. 
     Embodiment 1  
       FIG. 14  depicts a schematic plan view of a mold  41  used in an embodiment 1 of the present invention.  FIG. 14  depicts a schematic sectional view of the mold  41  used in the embodiment 1 of the present invention. The mold  41  depicted in  FIGS. 14 and 15  is a substrate which is used in a HD or DVD-RW disk, made of a polycarbonate resin, of a diameter of approximately φ120 mm, a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm, and a diameter of a central hole of approximately φ15 mm. A groove  45  (i.e., a depressed portion) of a track pitch TP 1 =approximately 400 nm, a groove width W 1 =approximately 200 nm, and a depth D 1 =approximately 27 nm, is formed spirally on one side of the mold  41  in a range of a diameter between approximately φ48 and φ118 mm. In the embodiment 1, unless otherwise noted, a mold pattern means a spiral groove  45 . A surface on which the groove  45  is formed is referred to as an indented surface  41   a.    
       FIG. 16  illustrates a bonded sample  46 . On the indented surface  41   a  of the mold, a Ge film (of a film thickness of approximately 10 nm) was formed in a sputtering process, as a heating layer  42 . As a to-be-transferred object  42 , a substrate made of a polycarbonate resin having the same outside dimensions as those of the mold  41  but having no grove  45  formed thereon was prepared. As depicted in  FIG. 16 , protruding portions of the heating layer  41  formed on the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  were made to come into contact with a to-be-referred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  in vacuum, they were bonded in a state in which vacuum adsorption was maintained therebetween, and thus, the bonded sample  46  was formed. 
     As an irradiation system to irradiate with electromagnetic waves, POP120-7A made by Hitachi Computer Peripherals Co., Ltd. was used. This irradiation system is one used for initialization of a phase-change type optical recording medium, and mounts an optical head having a semiconductor laser of a wavelength of approximately 830 nm, which is a light source of the electromagnetic waves. This optical head has an automatic focus servo mechanism, and focuses laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser as the light source, on the heating layer  42  of the bonded sample  46 . A size of a focused beam is a length of approximately 75 μm in a radius direction of the bonded sample  46  and a width of approximately 1 μm. 
     An imprint method itself was, approximately the same as one for initialization of a phase-change type optical recording medium. That is, the bonded sample  46  was placed on a turn table provided in the irradiation system, the bonded sample  46  was then rotated at any rotation speed, focus servo control was carried out, and, in the stated condition, laser light was irradiated with from a side of the to-be-transfer object  43 . Further, with the laser light being irradiated with, the optical head was moved in a radius direction of the bonded sample  46 , and thus, the entirety of the range in which the groove  45  was formed was irradiated with the laser light. 
     It is noted that, during the irradiation with laser light, tracking servo control was not carried out. In the embodiment 1, the imprint method was carried out in a setup condition depicted in Table 1. Under the condition, the imprint method may be finished within a time of approximately 40 seconds per sheet. However, in the embodiment 1, for the purpose that a state of the imprint method can be observed, carrying out the imprint method was interrupted in the middle. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 emitted laser power 
                 2000 mW 
               
               
                   
                 optical head feeding speed 
                 36 μm/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 revolution 
               
               
                   
                 rotating line velocity of bonded 
                 8 m/s 
               
               
                   
                 sample 46 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     After the irradiation with laser light, the mold  41  and the to-be-transferred object  43  were removed from one another. Then, when the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  which had been in contact with the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  was observed visually, interference colors, caused by light interference, the same as those of the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41 , could be seen. In order to understand the state more easily, an Ag film of a film thickness of approximately 200 nm was formed on the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43 . Further, for the purpose of comparison, an Ag film of a film thickness of approximately 200 nm was formed also on the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41 . 
       FIG. 17  depicts a view for checking interference colors of the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  and the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43 . In  FIG. 17 , it is possible to see the same interference colors  41   b  and  43   b  of both indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  and to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43 . Therefore, it can bee seen that, an indented shape of the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  had been transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43 . Further, since the interference colors  43   b  of the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  was ended at a part at which laser irradiation was ended, and no interference colors could be seen in the peripheral part, it can be seen that the above-mentioned transfer of the indented shape was carried out by means of the laser light irradiation. 
     Next, an optical disk evaluation apparatus (ODU-1000 made by Pulstec Industrial Co., Ltd.) was used to check a signal of the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  to which the indented shape had been transferred, when tracking was turned on and off.  FIG. 18  depicts a full light quantity signal  47 , a trigger signal  48  and a push-pull signal  49  when the tracking servo was tuned off. The full light quality signal  47  represents reflectance, the trigger signal  48  represents a time corresponding to one turn, and the push-pull signal  49  is used as a tracking error signal or such. Further, the abscissa represents a time and the ordinate represents a voltage. In  FIG. 18 , the push-pull signal  49  can be seen. Thereby, it can be seen that the indented shape of the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  had been transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43 . 
       FIG. 19  depicts the full light quantity signal  47 , the trigger signal  48  and the push-pull signal  49  when the tracking servo was turned on. The full light quantity signal  47  represents reflectance, the trigger signal  48  represents a time corresponding to one turn and the push-pull signal  49  is used as a tracking error signal or such. Further, the abscissa represents a time and the ordinate represents a voltage. In  FIG. 19 , as tracking servo could be carried out without any problem, it can be seen that the indented shape of the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41  had been satisfactorily transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43 . It is noted that, in this evaluation with the use of the optical disk evaluation apparatus, the same result could be obtained throughout the area on which laser irradiation was carried out. 
     According to the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the heating layer  42  which absorbs electromagnetic waves and generates heat is formed on the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41 , the heating layer  42  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves, the heating layer  42  is thus made to generate heat, and thereby, the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  is softened. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the indented shape to the to-be-transferred object  43  which is made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves. Thus, it is possible to provide the imprint method having improved practicability. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 1. 
     Embodiments 2 Through 9  
     In each of embodiments 2 through 9, the same as in the embodiment 1, a heating layer  42  was formed in a sputtering process on an indented surface  41  of a mold  41  depicted in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . First, in each of the embodiments 2 through 4, Ge was used as a material of the heating layer  42 , and, the heating layer  42  was formed with a film thickness depicted in Table 2. Thus, the imprint method was carried out. Table 2 also depicts the results. Therefrom, it can be been seen that the film thickness of Ge has an optimum range in which the indented shape can be transferred. The reason therefor may be as follows. That is, when the film thickness of Ge is too small, laser light may not be sufficiently absorbed, and a heat amount sufficient for transferring an indented shape may not be generated. On the other hand, when the film thickness of Ge is too large, the Ge film itself may radiate heat which the Ge film has once generated. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 groove 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 signal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interference 
                 seen/or not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 colors 
                 seen with 
               
               
                   
                 Ge film 
                 visually 
                 optical 
               
               
                   
                 thickness 
                 seen/or not 
                 evaluation 
               
               
                   
                 (nm) 
                 seen 
                 apparatus 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Embodiment 2 
                 5 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 1 
                 10 
                 seen 
                 Seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 3 
                 15 
                 seen 
                 seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 4 
                 20 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Next, in each of embodiment 5 through 9, as a material of a heating layer  42 , Ag was used, and the heating layer  42  was formed with a film thickness depicted in Table 3, and thus, the imprint method was carried out. Table 3 also depicts the results. As can be seen, transfer of an indented shape could not be carried out regardless of the film thickness of Ag. The reason therefor may be as follows: Heat conductivity of Ag itself may be too high to generate a sufficient heat amount for transferring the indented shape. 
     In Tables 2 and 3, the film thickness was measured with the use of a spectroscopic ellipsometer (M2000DI made by J A. Woollam). Further, whether a groove signal could be seen with the optical evaluation apparatus was determined from whether the push-pull signal could be seen when the tracking servo is turned off depicted in  FIG. 18 . 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 groove 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 signal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interference 
                 seen/or not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 colors 
                 seen with 
               
               
                   
                 Ag film 
                 visually 
                 optical 
               
               
                   
                 thickness 
                 seen/or not 
                 evaluation 
               
               
                   
                 (nm) 
                 seen 
                 apparatus 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Embodiment 5 
                 2 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 6 
                 5 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 7 
                 10 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 8 
                 15 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 9 
                 20 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The results of Tables 2 and 3 show that it is very important to adjust a required heat amount to be generated for transferring an indented shape, by a laser light absorbing amount and heat conductivity of the material of the heating layer  42  and a film thickness of the heating layer  42 . Such contents could not be found in the related art. 
     According to the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the heating layer  42  which absorbs electromagnetic waves and generates heat is formed on the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41 , the heating layer  42  is irradiated with electromagnetic waves, the heating layer  42  is thus made to generate heat, and thereby, the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  is softened. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the indented shape to the to-be-transferred object  43  which is made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves. Thus, it is possible to provide the imprint method having improved practicability. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiments 2 through 9. 
     Embodiment 10  
     In the embodiment 10, a heating layer  42  was formed in a sputtering process on an indented surface  41   a  of a mold  51  depicted in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The same as in the embodiments 1 through 4, Ge was used as a material of the heating layer  42 . A film of the heating layer  42  with a film thickness of each of the four film thicknesses depicted in Table 2 was formed, and thus, the imprint method was carried out on each of the four samples. In the embodiment 10, irradiation with laser light was carried out not from the side of the to-be-transferred object  43  but from the side of the mold  41 . As a result, results the same as those of the embodiments 1 through 4 depicted in Table 2 were obtained. Therefrom, it can be seen that, in the imprint method according to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily transfer an indented shape regardless of a direction in which laser light is irradiated with. 
     According to the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the heating layer  42  which absorbs electromagnetic waves and generates heat is formed on the indented surface  41   a  of the mold  41 , the heating layer  42  is irradiated with electromagnetic waves, the heating layer  42  is thus made to generate heat, and thereby, the to-be-transferred surface  43   a  of the to-be-transferred object  43  is softened. Therefore, when both the mold  41  and the to-be-transferred object  43  are made of materials which transmits electromagnetic waves, it is possible to transfer an indented shape to the to-be-transferred object  43  when electromagnetic waves are irradiated with either through the mold  41  or through the to-be-transferred object  43 . Thus, it is possible to provide the imprint method having improved practicability. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 10. 
     Embodiment 11 
     In an embodiment 11, as a mold  51 , a commercially available hologram sheet was used, and a both-side imprint method was carried out.  FIG. 20  depicts a photomicrograph of the hologram sheet used as the mold  51 . The hologram sheet of the mold  51  is a thin sheet of a rectangular parallelepiped having outside dimensions of 25 mm by 20 mm by 0.1 mm.  FIG. 21  depicts an AFM image depicting an indented state of the hologram sheet of the mold  51 , and evaluation was carried out with the use of an AFM apparatus (VN-8000 made by KEYENCE CORPORATION). From evaluation of the AFM image depicted in  FIG. 21 , it can be seen that the hologram sheet of the mold  51  has an indented shape of a height of approximately 130 nm and a pitch of approximately 800 nm (a surface having the indented shape of the hologram sheet of the mold  51  will be referred to as an “indented surface  51   a ”, hereinafter). 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a bonded sample  56 . Two sheets of the molds  51  were prepared, and a Ge film (having a film thickness of approximately 10 nm) was formed in a sputtering process as a heating layer  52  on an indented surface  51   a  of each mold  51 . As each of to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63 , a substrate made of a polycarbonate resin on which no groove  45  was formed, having outside dimensions the same as those of the mold  41  depicted in  FIG. 14 , was prepared. As depicted in  FIG. 22 , in a condition in which, the heating layer  52  formed on the indented surface  51   a  of the first mold  51  faces upward and the heating layer  52  formed on the indented surface  51   a  of the second mold  51  faces downward, and, in vacuum, with the two molds  51  being made not to overlap one another, protruding portions of the first heating layer  52  and the to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of the to-be-transferred object  53  were made to come into contact, protruding portions of the second heating layer  52  and the to-be-transferred surface  63   a  of the to-be-transferred object  63  were made to come into contact. Thus, bonding was carried out in a state in which vacuum adsorption was maintained between the respective members, and a bonded sample  56  was formed. 
     The thus-formed bonded sample  56  was irradiated with laser light, in the same procedure as that in the embodiment 1. However, there was a part in which no mold  51  exists between the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63  because of a relationship of dimensions between the molds  51  and the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63 . Therefore, when an automatic focusing mechanism is used, an apparatus stops at the part at winch the mold  51  does not exist. For this reason, a fixed focus method was used. A setup condition depicted in Table 4 was used. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 emitted laser power 
                 2200 mW 
               
               
                   
                 optical head feeding speed 
                 36 μm/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 revolution 
               
               
                   
                 rotating line velocity of bonded 
                 4 m/s 
               
               
                   
                 sample 56 (m/s) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Laser light was irradiated with, side by side, then, the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63  were removed, and the to-be-transferred surfaces  53   a  and  63   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63 , which had been in contact with the molds  51 , were visually observed. As a result, interference colors, caused by light interference, the same as those of the molds  51 , could be seen.  FIG. 23  is a photomicrograph of the to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of the to-be-transferred object  53 .  FIG. 24  depicts an AFM image depicting a state of the to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of the to-be-transferred object  53 , and evaluation was carried out whit the use of an AFM apparatus (VN-8000 made by KEYENCE CORPORATION). From evaluation with the use of the AFM apparatus, it could be confirmed that the to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of the to-be-transferred object  53  had an indented shape of a height of approximately 70 nm and a pitch of approximately 820 nm. In the same method, it could be confirmed that, also the to-be-transferred surface  63   a  of the to-be-transferred object  63  had the same indented shape as that of the to-be-transferred surface  53   a  of the to-be-transferred object  53 . 
     Except that the indented shape thus transferred to each of the to-be-transferred surfaces  53   a  and  63   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63  has the height approximately on the order of half of the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  51   a  of the hologram sheets of the molds  51 , the indented shapes of the molds  51  were satisfactorily transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces  53   a  and  63   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63 . A cause of the height becoming approximately on the order of half may be that, because focusing of laser light was carried out in the fixed focusing method, focusing might not be carried out sufficiently, and thereby, a sufficient heat amount might not be generated. 
     In the embodiment 11, as mentioned above, as depicted in  FIG. 22 , in a condition in which, the heating layer  52  formed on the indented surface  51   a  of the first mold  51  faces upward and the heating layer  52  formed on the indented surface  51   a  of the second mold  51  faces downward, and, in vacuum, with the two molds  51  being made not to overlap one another, the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63  and the molds  51  are overlaid in such a condition that the molds  51  are inserted between the to-be-transferred objects  53  and  63 . Thus, bonding was carried out in a state in which vacuum adsorption was maintained, and a bonded sample  56  was formed. However, from the result of the embodiment 11, it can easily be imagined that, a both-side imprint method described above as the second mode for carrying out the present invention can be realized, in which, a mold having indented surfaces on both sides is used, the mold is inserted between two to-be-transferred objects made of materials which transmit electromagnetic waves, and the two to-be-transferred objects are irradiated with the electromagnetic waves. 
     According to the present invention, the both-side imprint method can be achieved, and thus, it is possible to provide an imprint method having higher practicability. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imprint method having high speed and improved productivity. It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 11. 
     &lt;Third Mode for Carrying Out the Present Invention&gt; 
     With reference to  FIGS. 25-31 , an imprint method according to a third mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.  FIGS. 25-31  schematically illustrate the imprint method according to the third mode for carrying out the present invention. In  FIGS. 25-31 ,  111  represents a to-be-transferred object,  112  represents a heating layer,  113  represents a mold, and  114  represents electromagnetic waves. Further,  111   a  represents a to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object  111 , and  113   a  represents an indented surface of the mold  113 . 
     First, in a process depicted in  FIG. 25 , i.e., a heating layer forming process, the to-be-transferred object  111  is prepared, and the heating layer  112  is formed on the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111 . As a material of the to-be-transferred object  111 , for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a material used as a so-called substrate such as Si or such, may be used. The heating layer  112  is made of a heating material which, in a process depicted in  FIG. 28  later, absorbs the electromagnetic waves  114  which are irradiated with through the to-be-transferred object  111  or the mold  113 , which is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  114 , and generates such a heat amount to be able to soften the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111 . 
     The heat amount generated by the heating layer  112  is adjusted by means of an electromagnetic wave  114  absorbing amount and heat conductivity of the material of the heating layer  112  and a film thickness of the heating layer  112 .  FIG. 32  schematically illustrates a relationship between the electromagnetic wave  114  absorbing amount, the heat conductivity and the film thickness of the heating layer  112 , and the heat amount generated by the heating layer  112 . In  FIG. 32 , an area of an oblique line part defined by a triangle corresponds to the heat amount. By optimizing a balance between the electromagnetic wave  114  absorbing amount, the heat conductivity and the film thickness of the heating layer  112  with respect to the to-be-transferred object  111  to which the indented pattern of the indented surface  1113   a  is transferred, it is possible to carry out transferring an indented shape of the indented surface  113   a  satisfactorily. 
     For example, a material having predetermined electromagnetic wave  114  absorbing amount and predetermined heat conductivity is selected, and an optimum film thickness of the heating layer  112  is determined, such that the heating layer  112  generates the necessary heat amount, in consideration of the predetermined electromagnetic wave  114  absorbing amount and the predetermined heat conductivity. The absorbing amount and heat conductivity may preferably fall within respective ranges of, for example, 50 through 100% and 20 through 400 W/m/k. 
     As a material of the heating layer  112 , a material, which has satisfactory releasability from the to-be-transferred object  111  and also, generates heat in the same degree also when irradiation with the electromagnetic waves  114  is carried out a plurality of times, is preferable. Specifically, any one of Si and Ge which are semiconductors, Sn, Sb and Bi which are semimetals, Cu, Au, Pt and Pd which are precious metals, and so forth, Zn, Ni, Co and Cr which are transition metals, and alloys thereof, carbides typified by SiC, TiC and so forth, a ceramics material such as an oxygen deficiency oxide typified by SiOx, GeOx and so forth, and compounds or complexes thereof, is preferable. Further, it is preferable that a material of the heating layer  112  includes a phase change material. Since the phase change material has large electromagnetic wave  114  absorbing amount and heat conductivity, it is possible to reduce an optimum film thickness of the heating layer  112  to generate the necessary heat amount, and thus, it is possible to improve productivity. 
     As the phase change material, a material may be appropriately selected from materials used as a material of a recording layer of a rewritable-type optical recording medium. For example, it is preferable to use a material which includes one or more elements selected from Sb, Ge, Ga, In, Zn, Mn, Sn, Ag, Mg, Ca, Ag, Bi, Se and Te. As the phase change material, a desired material may be used in consideration of a thermal characteristic and an optical chrematistic. A GeSbTe alloy, an AgInSbTe alloy, an AgInSbTeGe alloy, a GaSbSnGe alloy, GeSbSnMn alloy, a GeInSbTe alloy, a GeSbSnTe alloy and so forth, are preferable. 
     Further, the heating layer  112  may have a configuration of not only a single layer but also a plurality of layers which are laminated together. By using such a configuration of a plurality of layers, which is referred to as a multi-layer configuration, it is possible to adjust not only a heating amount but also temperature maintaining, a cooling speed and so forth. Thus, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. 
     Next, in a process depicted in  FIG. 26 , i.e., a mold forming process, the mold  113  having the indented surface  113   a  is formed. The indented surface  113   a  is a surface including a nanometer-scale indented pattern for example. As a material of the mold  113 , for example, a molding material or such commonly used for a nanoimprint method may be used, for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a metal material typified by Ni, Ta, or such, may be used. The indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113  can be formed by means of an FIB (i.e., Focused Ion Beam) process or such. The FIB process is such that, as well-known, a Ga (i.e., gallium) ion beam which is sufficiently narrowed is used, and a complicate shape can be formed with an accuracy of a submicron level. 
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 27 , the heating layer  112  formed on the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  and protruding portions of the indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113  are made to come into contact with one another. The above-mentioned to come in contact with is carried out in such a manner that the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  are pressed to one another strongly by an external pressure. Specifically, a special pressing machine may be used to press by mechanical force. However, it is preferable to use a vacuum adsorption method in which a vacuum is formed between the heating layer  112  and the indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113 , and thus, an external atmospheric pressure is used to press the heating layer  12  and the indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113  to each other. 
     The vacuum adsorption method can be carried out with the use of a general-purpose apparatus, and it is easy to maintain the adsorption state. Further, even when the to-be-transferred object  111  or the mold  113  does not have a high mechanical strength, it is possible to obtain such a pressing force which is minimum so that the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  are prevented from being broken. By using vacuum adsorption, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. Vacuum adsorption can be carried out with the use of an existing vacuum bonding machine which is one used to bond two substrates for forming a DVD-ROM which is a well-known optical recording medium in a vacuum state in which no gas which may cause voids exists. 
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 28 , i.e., a softening process, the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the to-be-transferred object  111  or the mold  113 , which is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  114 . Thereby, the heating layer  112  is made to generate heat, and therewith, the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  is softened. The to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  are strongly pressed to one another through the heating layer  112 , for example, by means of vacuum adsorption as mentioned above. Therefore, when the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  is thus softened as a result of the heating layer  112  generating heat by means of the electromagnetic waves  114  being irradiated with, the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  changes in its shape according to an indented shape of the indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113 . It is noted that, a melting point or a softening point of the material of the mold  113  is equal to or higher than a melting point or a softening point of the material of the to-be-transferred object  111 . 
     At least any one of the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  should be made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  114 . When the mold  113  is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  114 , as depicted in  FIG. 28 , (a), the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the mold  113 . When the to-be-transferred object  111  is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  114 , as depicted in  FIG. 28 , (b), the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the to-be-transferred object  111 . 
     Further, when both the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  114 , either the heating layer  112  may be irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the mold  113  as depicted in  FIG. 28 , (a) or the heating layer  112  may be irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the to-be-transferred object  111  as depicted in  FIG. 28 , (b). However, it is preferable that the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the to-be-transferred object  111  as depicted in  FIG. 28 , (b). 
     This is because, when the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the mold  113 , interference may occur in the electromagnetic waves because of the indented shape of the indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113 . When interference occurs, the heating layer  12  may not be uniformly irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114 , and thereby, accuracy of an indented shape transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-referred object  111  may degrade. On the other hand, when the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114  through the to-be-transferred object  111 , the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  is flat until the heating layer  112  generates heat and the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  is softened thereby. As a result, the above-mentioned problem does not occur. 
     A wavelength of the electromagnetic waves  114  may be preferably equal to or shorter than 2000 nm. When a wavelength is longer than 2000 nm, there are few heating materials which sufficiently absorb the electromagnetic waves  114 . Laser light is most preferable as the electromagnetic waves  114 . This is because, when laser light is used, it is possible to increase light intensity per unit area, i.e., energy density, on the heating layer  112 . Further, as a laser which emits laser light, a semiconductor laser is especially preferable. In fact, the semiconductor laser is small-sized, can be easily maintained, is inexpensive and has a long life. 
     In the softening process depicted in  FIG. 28 , it is preferable to carry out a focusing process in which the electromagnetic waves  114  emitted by a light source are focused on the hearting layer  112 . By carrying out the focusing process, it is possible to efficiently carry out irradiation with the electromagnetic waves  114 . Further, it is preferable to carry out focus servo control in the focusing process when the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  114 , or the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113 , or both, is two-dimensionally moved. By carrying out the focus servo control, it is possible to cancel mechanical errors and positively focus the electromagnetic waves  14  on the heating layer  112 . Thus, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. 
     The above-mentioned case where the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  114 , or the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113 , or both, is two-dimensionally moved, will now be described. Such a case is a case where, for example, in an embodiment 12 described later or such, the electromagnetic waves  114  are irradiated with, while, the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  which are pressed to one another by means of vacuum adsorption are placed on a turn table and are rotated. The focus servo may be carried out in a well-known method which is one used when laser light is made to follow and is focused on a rotated optical recording medium when information is recorded to or reproduced from the optical recording medium. 
     Next, in a process, i.e., a releasing process, as depicted in  FIG. 29 , the mold  113  is released from the to-be-transferred object  111 . Next, in a heating layer removing process, as depicted in  FIG. 30 , the heating layer  112  formed on the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  is removed. As a result, as depicted in  FIG. 31 , the indented shape of the indented surface  113   a  of the mold  113  is transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111 . It is noted that, the heating layer  112  can be removed by means of, for example, wet etching. The wet etching means etching using a liquid chemical which has such a characteristic to corrode and dissolve a target metal or such. 
     In an imprint method in the related art, a to-be-transferred surface of a to-be-transferred object made of a material which does not transmit electromagnetic waves is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves through a mold which transmits the electromagnetic waves. Thus, the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object is softened, and an indented shape of an indented surface of the mold is transferred to the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object. That is, in the related art, a material of the mold is limited to a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, and a material of the to-be-transferred object is limited to a material which does not transmit the electromagnetic waves (i.e., a material which absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat). 
     In contrast thereto, in the imprint method according to the third mode for carrying out the present invention, the heating layer  112  which absorbs the electromagnetic waves  14  and generates heat is formed on the to-be-referred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111 , the heating layer  112  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  114 , the heating layer  112  is thus made to generate heat, whereby the to-be-transferred surface  111   a  of the to-be-transferred object  111  is softened. Therefore, at least any one of the to-be-transferred object  111  and the mold  113  should be made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves  114 . 
     That is, in the imprint method according to the third mode for carrying out the present invention, not only a combination of a mold made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves and a to-be-transferred object made of a material which does not transmit the electromagnetic waves used in the imprint method in the related art, but also another combination of a mold made of a material which does not transmit electromagnetic waves and a to-be-transferred object made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, may be used. Also, further another combination of a mold made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves and a to-be-transferred object made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, may be used. Thus, it is possible to provide an imprint method which has highly practicability. 
     &lt;Fourth Mode for Carrying Out the Present Invention&gt; 
     With reference to  FIGS. 33 through 39 , an imprint method in a fourth mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. The imprint method in the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention is different from the imprint method in the third mode for carrying out the present invention in that, in the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention, a mold having two indented surfaces is used, and indented shapes of the two indented surfaces are transferred to to-be-transferred surfaces of two to-be-transferred objects, respectively. 
       FIGS. 33-39  schematically illustrate the imprint method according to the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention. In  FIGS. 33-37 ,  121  and  131  represent to-be-transferred objects,  122  and  132  represent heating layers,  123  represents a mold and  124  represents electromagnetic waves. Further,  121   a  and  131   a  represent to-be-transferred surfaces of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , and  123   a  and  123   b  represent indented surfaces of the mold  123 . 
     First, in a process depicted in  FIG. 33 , i.e., a heating layer forming process, the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  are prepared, and the heating layers  122  and  132  are formed on the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , respectively. As materials of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a material which is used as a so-called substrate, such as Si, may be used. The heating layers  122  and  132  are made of a heating material which, in a process depicted in  FIG. 36  later, absorb electromagnetic waves  124  which are irradiated with through the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , which are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  124 , and generate such heat amounts to be able to soften the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , respectively. Adjustment of heat amounts to be generated by the heating layers  122  and  132 , materials of the heating layers  122  and  132 , and so forth, are the same as those of the heating layer  112  used in the imprint method according to the third mode for carrying out the present invention, and thus, duplicate description will be omitted. 
     Next, in a mold forming process, as depicted in  FIG. 34 , the mold  123  having the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  is formed. The indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  are surfaces including nanometer-scale indented patterns for example. As a material of the mold  123 , for example, a molding material or such commonly used for a nanoimprint method may be used, for example, a resin typified by a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polystyrene resin, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, a ABS resin, a urethane resin or such, a crystal or ceramics material of an oxide typified by SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  or such, a nitride typified by SiN, AlN or such, a carbide typified by SiC, GC (i.e., glassy carbon) or such, or a metal material typified by Ni, Ta or such, may be used. A material having a form of a film is especially preferable. The indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123  can be formed by means of an FIB (i.e., Focused Ion Beam) process or such. The FIB process is such that, as well-known, a Ga (i.e., gallium) ion beam which is sufficiently narrowed is used, and a complicate shape can be formed with an accuracy of a submicron level. 
     Next, as depicted in  FIG. 35 , the heating layers  122  and  132  formed on the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , are made to come into contact with the protruding portions of the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123 , respectively. The above-mentioned to come in contact with is carried out in such a manner that the mold  123  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  are pressed to one another strongly by an external pressure. Specifically, a special pressing machine may be used to press by mechanical force. However, it is preferable to use a vacuum adsorption method in which a vacuum is formed between each of the heating layers  122  and  132  and the respective one of the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123 , and thus, an external atmospheric pressure is used to press the heating layers  122  and  132  and the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123 , respectively. Because the vacuum adsorption is the same as that used in the imprint method according to the third mode for carrying out the present invention, duplicate description will be omitted. 
     Next, in a process of  FIG. 36 , i.e., a softening process, each of the heating layers  122  and  132  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  24  through the respective one of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , which are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  124 . Thereby, the heating layers  122  and  132  are made to generate heat, and therewith, the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  are softened. The mold  123  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  are strongly pressed to one another through the respective one of the heating layers  122  and  132 , for example, by means of vacuum adsorption. Therefore, when the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  are thus softened as a result of the heating layers  122  and  132  generating heat by means of the electromagnetic waves  124  being irradiated with, the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  change in their shapes according to indented shapes of the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123 . It is noted that, a melting point or a softening point of the material of the mold  123  is equal to or higher than a melting point or a softening point of the material of each of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 . 
     Both to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  should be made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  124 . The heating layers  122  and  132  may be irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  124  through the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  one by one in sequence. However, by irradiating the heating layers  122  and  132  with the electromagnetic waves  124  from both sides of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  simultaneously, productivity can be improved. As a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves  124  and so forth are the same as those in the case of the imprint method according to the third mode for carrying out the present invention, duplicate description will be omitted. 
     In the softening process depicted in  FIG. 36 , it is preferable to carry out a focusing process in which the electromagnetic waves  124  emitted by a light source are focused on the hearting layers  122  and  132 . By carrying out the focusing process, it is possible to efficiently carry out irradiation with the electromagnetic waves  124 . Further, it is preferable to carry out focus servo control in the focusing process when the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  124 , or the mold  123  and the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , or both, are two-dimensionally moved. By carrying out the focus servo control, it is possible to cancel mechanical errors and positively focus the electromagnetic waves  124  on the heating layers  122  and  132 . Thus, it is possible to carry out the imprint method satisfactorily. 
     The above-mentioned case where the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that an optical head (not depicted) having the light source which emits the electromagnetic waves  124 , or the mold  123  and the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , or both, are two-dimensionally moved, will now be described. Such a case is a case where, for example, in the embodiment 12 described later or such, the electromagnetic waves  124  are irradiated with, while, the mold  123  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  which are pressed to one another by means of vacuum adsorption are placed on a turn table and are rotated. The focus servo may be carried out in a well-known method which is one used when laser light is made to follow and is focused on a rotated optical recording medium when information is recorded to or reproduced from the optical recording medium. 
     It is noted that, in a case where the electromagnetic waves  124  are irradiated with from both sides of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  simultaneously, while, the mold  123  and each of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  which are pressed to one another by means of vacuum adsorption are placed on a turn table and are rotated, a mechanism which is different from an information recording/reforming apparatus in the prior art is required, such that, for example, two optical heads are provided on both sides of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 . However, such a mechanism can be prepared within a scope of the prior art. 
     Next, in a process, i.e., a releasing process, as depicted in  FIG. 37 , the mold  123  is released from each of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , and thus, as depicted in  FIG. 38 , the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123  are transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , respectively. It is noted that, the heating layers  122  and  132  can be removed by means of, for example, wet etching. The wet etching means etching using a liquid chemical which has such a characteristic to corrode and dissolve a target metal or such. 
     In an imprint method in the related art, a to-be-transferred surface of a to-be-transferred object made of a material which does not transmit electromagnetic waves is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves through a mold which transmits the electromagnetic waves. Thus, the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object is softened, and an indented shape of an indented surface of the mold is transferred to the to-be-transferred surface of the to-be-transferred object. That is, in the related art, a material of the mold is limited to a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves, and a material of the to-be-transferred object is limited to a material which does not transmit the electromagnetic waves (i.e., a material which absorbs the electromagnetic waves and generates heat). Therefore, in the related art, it is not possible to perform an imprint method from both sides of to-be-transferred objects which come into contact with a mold from both sides. 
     In the imprint method according to the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention, the heating layers  122  and  132  which absorb the electromagnetic waves  124  and generate heat are formed on the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , the heating layers  122  and  132  are irradiated with the electromagnetic waves  124 , the heating layers  122  and  132  are thus made to generate heat, whereby the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  124  are softened. Thus, the indented shapes of the indented surfaces  123   a  and  123   b  of the mold  123  are transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces  121   a  and  131   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131 , respectively. 
     That is, in the imprint method according to the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the to-be-transferred objects  121  and  131  which are made of materials which transmit the electromagnetic waves  24  can be used, and thus, the imprint method (i.e., a both-side imprint method) having higher practicability can be provided. Further, in the imprint method according to the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention, it is possible to provide the imprint method (i.e., the both-side imprint method) which is of a high speed and has improved productivity. 
     Embodiment 12  
       FIG. 40  depicts a schematic plan view of a mold  143  used in an embodiment 12 of the present invention.  FIG. 41  depicts a schematic sectional view of the mold  143  used in the embodiment 12 of the present invention. The mold  143  depicted in  FIGS. 40 and 41  is a substrate which is used in a HD or DVD-RW disk, made of a polycarbonate resin, of a diameter of approximately φ120 mm, a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm, and a diameter of a central hole of approximately φ15 mm. A groove (i.e., a depressed portion)  145  of a track pitch TP 1 =approximately 400 nm, a groove width W 1 =approximately 200 nm, and a depth D 1 =approximately 27 nm, is formed spirally on one side of the mold  143  in a range of a diameter between approximately φ48 and φ118 mm. In the embodiment 12, unless otherwise noted, a mold pattern means a spiral groove  145 . A surface on which the groove  145  is formed is referred to as an indented surface  143   a.    
       FIG. 42  illustrates a bonded sample  146 . As a to-be-transferred object  141 , a substrate made of a polycarbonate resin having the same outside dimensions as those of the mold  143  but having no grove  145  formed thereon was prepared. On the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 , a Ge film (having a film thickness of approximately 10 nm) was formed in a sputtering process as a heating layer  142 . As depicted in  FIG. 42 , the heating layer  142  formed on the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  was made to come into contact with protruding portions of the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  in vacuum, they were bonded in a state in which vacuum adsorption was maintained, and thus, the bonded sample  146  was formed. 
     As an irradiation system to irradiate with electromagnetic waves, POP120-7A made by Hitachi Computer Peripherals Co., Ltd. was used. This irradiation system is one used for initialization of a phase-change type optical recording medium, and mounts an optical head having a semiconductor laser of a wavelength of approximately 830 nm, which is a light source of the electromagnetic waves. This optical head has an automatic focus servo mechanism, and focuses laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser as the light source, on the heating layer  142  of the bonded sample  146 . A size of a focused beam is a length of approximately 75 μm in a radius direction of the bonded sample  146  and a width of approximately 1 μm. 
     An imprint method itself was, approximately the same as initialization of a phase-change type optical recording medium, the bonded sample  146  was placed on a turn table provided in the irradiation system, the bonded sample  146  was then rotated at any rotation speed, focus servo control was carried out, and, in the stated condition, laser light was irradiated with from a side of the to-be-transferred object  141 . Further, with the laser light being irradiated with, the optical head was moved in a radius direction of the bonded sample  146 , and the entirety of the range in which the groove  145  was formed was irradiated with the laser light. 
     It is noted that, during the irradiation with laser light, tracking servo control was not carried out. In the embodiment 12, the imprint method was carried out in a setup condition depicted in Table 5. Under the condition, the imprint method may be finished within a time of approximately 40 seconds per sheet. However, in the embodiment 12, for the purpose that a state of the imprint method could be observed, the imprint method was interrupted in the middle. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 emitted laser power 
                 1800 mW 
               
               
                   
                 optical head feeding speed 
                 36 μm/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 revolution 
               
               
                   
                 rotating line velocity of bonded 
                 8 m/s 
               
               
                   
                 sample 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     After the irradiation with laser light, the mold  143  and the to-be-transferred object  143  were removed from one another. Then, when the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  which had been in contact with the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  was observed visually, interference colors, caused by light interference, the same as those of the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143 , could be seen. Therefore, it can bee seen that, an indented shape of the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  had been transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 . Further, since the interference colors of the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  was ended at a part at which laser light irradiation was ended, and no interference colors could be seen in a peripheral part, it can be seen that the above-mentioned transfer of the indented shape was carried out by means of the laser light irradiation. 
     In order to confirm, in another way, that the indented shape of the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  had been transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 , an Ag film was formed on the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  for a film thickness of approximately 200 nm. Further, for the purpose of comparison, an Ag film was formed also on the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  for a film thickness of approximately 200 nm. 
     After forming the Ag films, an optical disk evaluation apparatus (ODU-1000 made by Pulstec Industrial Co., Ltd.) was used to check a signal of the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  to which the indented shape had been transferred, when tracking servo is turned on and off.  FIG. 43  depicts a full light quantity signal  147 , a trigger signal  148  and a push-pull signal  149  when the tracking servo was tuned off. The full light quality signal  147  represents reflectance, the trigger signal  148  represents a time corresponding to one turn, and the push-pull signal  149  is used as a tracking error signal or such. Further, the abscissa represents a time and the ordinate represents a voltage. In  FIG. 43 , the push-pull signal  149  can be seen. Thereby, it can be seen that the indented shape of the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  had been transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 . 
       FIG. 44  depicts the full light quantity signal  147 , the trigger signal  148  and the push-pull signal  149  when the tracking servo was turned on. The full light quantity  147  signal represents reflectance, the trigger signal  148  represents a time corresponding to one turn and the push-pull signal  149  is used as a tracking error signal or such. Further, the abscissa represents a time and the ordinate represents a voltage. In  FIG. 44 , as tracking servo could be carried out without any problem, it can be seen that the indented shape of the indented surface  143   a  of the mold  143  had been satisfactorily transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 . It is noted that, in this evaluation with the use of the optical disk evaluation apparatus, the same result could be obtained throughout the area on which laser irradiation was carried out. 
     According to the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the heating layer  142  which absorbs electromagnetic waves and generates heat is formed on the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 , the heating layer  142  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves, the heating layer  142  is thus made to generate heat, and thereby, the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  is softened. Therefore, it is possible to transfer an indented shape to the to-be-transferred object  141  which is made of a material which transmits the electromagnetic waves. Thus, it is possible to provide the imprint method having improved practicability. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 12. 
     Embodiments 13 through 20  
     In each of embodiments 13 through 20, the same as in the embodiment 12, a heating layer  142  was formed in a sputtering process on a to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of a to-be-transferred object  141 . First, in each of the embodiments 13 through 15, Ge was used as a material of the heating layer  142 , and, the heating layer  142  was formed with a film thickness depicted in Table 6. Thus, the imprint method was carried out. Table 6 also depicts results. Therefrom, it can be seen that the film thickness of Ge has an optimum range in which the indented shape can be transferred. The reason therefor may be as follows. That is, when the film thickness of Ge is too small, laser light may not be sufficiently absorbed, and a heat amount sufficient for transferring the indented shape may not be generated. On the other hand, when the film thickness of Ge is too large, the Ge film itself may radiate heat which the Ge film has once generated. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 groove 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 signal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interference 
                 seen/or not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 colors 
                 seen with 
               
               
                   
                 Ge film 
                 visually 
                 optical 
               
               
                   
                 thickness 
                 seen/or not 
                 evaluation 
               
               
                   
                 (nm) 
                 seen 
                 apparatus 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Embodiment 13 
                 5 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 12 
                 10 
                 seen 
                 seen 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 14 
                 15 
                 seen 
                 seen 
               
               
                   
                 embodiment 15 
                 20 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Next, in each of the embodiment 16 through 20, as a material of a heating layer  142 , Ag was used, and the heating layer  142  was formed with a film thickness depicted in Table 7, and the imprint method was carried out. Table 7 also depicts results. Transfer of the indented shape could not be carried out regardless of the film thickness of Ag. The reason therefor may be as follows: Heat conductivity of Ag itself may be too high to generate a sufficient heat amount for transferring the indented shape. 
     In Tables 6 and 7, the film thickness was measured with the use of a spectroscopic ellipsometer (M2000DI made by J A. Woollam). Further, whether a groove signal could be seen with the optical evaluation apparatus was determined from whether the push-pull signal could be seen when the tracking servo is turned off depicted in  FIG. 43 . 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 7 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 groove 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 signal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interference 
                 seen/or not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 colors 
                 seen with 
               
               
                   
                 Ag film 
                 visually 
                 optical 
               
               
                   
                 thickness 
                 seen/or not 
                 evaluation 
               
               
                   
                 (nm) 
                 seen 
                 apparatus 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Embodiment 
                 2 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 
                 5 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 
                 10 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 
                 15 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 19 
               
               
                   
                 Embodiment 
                 20 
                 not seen 
                 not seen 
               
               
                   
                 20 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The results of Tables 6 and 7 show that it is very important to adjust a required heat amount to be generated for transferring the indented shape by a laser light absorbing amount and heat conductivity of the material of the heating layer  142  and a film thickness of the heating layer  142 . Such contents could not be found in the related art. 
     According to the present invention, different from the imprint method in the related art, the heating layer  142  which absorbs electromagnetic waves and generates heat is formed on the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 , the heating layer  142  is irradiated with the electromagnetic waves, the heating layer  142  is thus made to generate heat, and thereby, the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141  is softened. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the indented shape to the to-be-transferred object  14  which is made of a material which transmits electromagnetic waves. Thus, it is possible to provide the imprint method having improved practicability. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiments 13 through 20. 
     Embodiment 21  
     In an embodiment 21, as a mold  153 , a commercially available hologram sheet was used, and a both-side imprint method was carried out.  FIG. 45  depicts a photomicrograph of the hologram sheet used as the mold  153 . The hologram sheet of the mold  153  is a thin sheet of a rectangular parallelepiped having outside dimensions of 25 mm by 20 mm by 0.1 mm.  FIG. 46  is an AFM image depicting an indented state of the hologram sheet of the mold  153 , and evaluation was carried out with the use of an AFM apparatus (VN-8000 made by KEYENCE CORPORATION). From evaluation of the AFM image depicted in  FIG. 46 , it can be seen that the hologram sheet of the mold  153  has an indented shape of a height of approximately 130 nm and a pitch of approximately 800 nm (a surface having the indented shape of the hologram sheet of the mold  153  will be referred to as an “indented surface  153   a ”, hereinafter). 
       FIG. 47  illustrates a bonded sample  156 . Two sheets of the molds  153  were prepared. As each of to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161 , a substrate made of a polycarbonate resin on which no groove  145  was formed, having outside dimensions the same as those of the mold  143  depicted in  FIG. 40 , was prepared. Then, in the same method as that of the embodiment 12, a Ge film (having a film thickness of approximately 10 nm) was formed in a sputtering process as heating layers  152  and  162 , on to-be-transferred surfaces  151   a  and  161   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161 . As depicted in  FIG. 47 , in a condition in which, the indented surface  153   a  of the first mold  153  faces upward and the indented surface  153   a  of the second mold  153  faces downward, and, in vacuum, with the two molds  153  being made not to overlap one another, protruding portions of the first indented surface  153   a  and the heating layer  52  formed on the to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of the to-be-transferred object  151  were made to come into contact, protruding portions of the second indented surface  153   a  and the heating layer  162  formed on the to-be-transferred surface  161   a  of the to-be-transferred object  161  were made to come into contact. Thus, bonding was carried out in a state in which vacuum adsorption was maintained, and a bonded sample  156  was formed. 
     The thus-formed bonded sample  156  was irradiated with laser light, in the same procedure as that in the embodiment 12. However, there was a part in which no mold  153  exists between the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161  because of a relationship of dimensions between the molds  153  and the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161 . Therefore, when an automatic focusing mechanism is used, an apparatus stops at the part at winch the mold  153  does not exist. For this reason, a fixed focus method was used. A setup condition depicted in Table 8 was used. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 8 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 emitted laser power 
                 2000 mW 
               
               
                   
                 optical head feeding speed 
                 36 μm/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 revolution 
               
               
                   
                 rotating line velocity of bonded 
                 4 m/s 
               
               
                   
                 sample (m/s) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Laser light was irradiated with, side by side, then the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161  were removed, and the to-be-transferred surfaces  151   a  and  161   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161 , which had been in contact with the molds  153 , were visually observed. As a result, interference colors, caused by light interference, the same as those of the molds  153 , could be seen.  FIG. 48  is a photomicrograph of the to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of the to-be-transferred object  151 .  FIG. 49  depicts an AFM image depicting a state of the to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of the to-be-transferred object  151 , and evaluation was carried out with the use of an AFM apparatus (VN-8000 made by KEYENCE CORPORATION). From evaluation with the use of the AFM apparatus, it could be confirmed that the to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of the to-be-transferred object  151  had an indented shape of a height of approximately 70 nm and a pitch of approximately 820 nm. In the same method, it could be confirmed that, also the to-be-transferred surface  161   a  of the to-be-transferred object  161  had the same indented shape as that of the to-be-transferred surface  151   a  of the to-be-transferred object  151 . 
     Except that the indented shape thus transferred to each of the to-be-transferred surfaces  151   a  and  161   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161  has the height approximately on the order of half of the indented shape of the indented surface  153   a  of the hologram sheet of the mold  153 , the indented shapes of the molds  153  had been satisfactorily transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces  151   a  and  161   a  of the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161 , respectively. A cause of the height being thus approximately on the order of half may be that, because focusing of laser light was carried out in the fixed focusing method, focusing might not be carried out sufficiently, and thereby, a sufficient heat might not be generated. Therefore, it can be seen that, by adjusting a laser light irradiation condition (especially, a parameter concerning light intensity), it is possible to adjust a shape and a size of a to-be-transferred object. 
     In the embodiment 21, because of an experiment environment, two hologram sheets each having the indented surface  153   a  on one side were used as the molds  153 . Then, in a condition in which, the indented surface  153   a  of the first mold  153  faces upward and the indented surface  153   a  of the second mold  153  faces downward, and, in vacuum, with the two molds  153  being made not to overlap one another, the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161  and the molds  153  are overlaid together in such a condition that the molds  152  are inserted between the to-be-transferred objects  151  and  161 . Thus, bonding was carried out in a state in which vacuum adsorption was maintained, and a bonded sample  156  was formed. 
     However, from the result of the embodiment 21, it can be easily imagined that, the both-side imprint method described above as the fourth mode for carrying out the present invention can be realized, in which, a mold having indented surfaces on both sides is used, the mold is inserted between two to-be-transferred objects made of materials which transmit electromagnetic waves, irradiated with the electromagnetic waves is carried out through the two to-be-transferred objects, and indented shape of the indented surfaces are transferred to the to-be-transferred surfaces of the to-be-transferred objects. 
     According to the present invention, the both-side imprint method can be achieved, and thus, it is possible to provide an imprint method having higher practicability. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imprint method having high speed and improved productivity. It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 21. 
     Embodiment 22  
     In an embodiment 22, in the same way as that of the embodiment 12, on a to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of a to-be-transferred object  141 , a Ge film (with a film thickness of approximately 10 nm) was formed in a sputtering process as a heating layer  142 . As a mold, a quartz substrate having the same shape as that of the mold  143  used in the embodiment 12 was prepared. On a surface of the thus-prepared quartz substrate as the mold, a texture structure depicted in  FIG. 50  was formed.  FIG. 50  depicts a photomicrograph of the texture structure formed on the surface of the quartz substrate as the mold. A size of the texture structure depicted in  FIG. 50  is such that, a dot pitch is 400 nm and a height is 500 nm. The texture structure depicted in  FIG. 50  corresponds to the indented surface  143   a  of the embodiment 12. It is noted that, the texture structure means a repeated pattern which is disposed according to a predetermined rule, and, for example, a structure having many fine indented shapes on its surface. 
     Next, in the same method as that in the embodiment 12, the texture structure formed on the surface of the quartz substrate as the mold was transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of the to-be-transferred object  141 .  FIG. 51  illustrates a light transmission spectrum of the to-be-transferred object  141 . In  FIG. 51 , a symbol Δ represents the to-be-transferred object  141  to which the texture structure had been transferred to the to-be-transferred surface  141   a,  a symbol × represents the quartz substrate as the mold having the texture structure formed on the surface thereof, and a symbol ◯ represents a quartz substrate having no texture structure formed on a surface thereof. Transmittance of the mold and the quartz substrate is depicted for the purpose of comparison to transmittance of the to-be-transferred object  141 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 51 , the to-be-transferred object  141  (Δ) and the quartz substrate used as the mold for transfer (×), in the same manner, have the transmittance which is higher than that of the quartz substrate (◯) in a wavelength zone of equal to or higher than 600 nm. This is because of a reflection preventing function provided by the texture structure. Since the to-be-transferred object  41  has a characteristic equivalent to that of the quartz substrate used as the mold for transfer, it can be seen that transfer had been carried out satisfactorily. 
     From the above-mentioned result, it can be seen that, according to the present invention, such a mold having a texture structure on its surface can be used in the imprint method, and transfer of the texture structure can be achieved. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 22. 
     Embodiment 23  
     In an embodiment 23, in the same way as that in the embodiment 12, on a to-be-transferred surface  141   a  of a to-be-transferred object  141 , a Ge film (with a film thickness of approximately 10 nm) was formed as a heating layer  142  in a sputtering process. Then, in the same way as that in the embodiment 12, a bonded sample  146  was formed. Thus, the imprint method is carried out in such a manner that the bonded sample was irradiated with laser light from the side of the mold  143 . To the thus-formed to-be-transferred object  141 , tracking was carried out with the use of the evaluation apparatus used in the embodiment 12, and thus, 2500 tracks (i.e., a width of approximately 1 mm) were scanned. At this time, a rotating line velocity of the to-be-transferred object  141  was changed as depicted in Table 9, and it was checked whether tracking failure occurred. A symbol ◯ represents that no tracking failure occurred and a symbol × represents that tracking failure occurred. For the purpose of comparison, a case of the embodiment 12 is also depicted in Table 9. As depicted in Table 9, it could be seen that, tracking failure occurred when a rotating line velocity became higher than a predetermined value, for the to-be-transferred object  141  in which the imprint method was carried out in such a condition that laser light was irradiated with from the side of the mold  143 . 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 whether 
                 whether 
               
               
                 rotating 
                 tracing 
                 tracing 
               
               
                 line 
                 failure 
                 failure 
               
               
                 velocity 
                 occurred in 
                 occurred in 
               
               
                 (m/s) 
                 embodiment 23 
                 embodiment 12 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 2 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 5 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 10 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 15 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 20 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 25 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 30 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 35 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     From the above-mentioned results, it can be seen that, it is possible to provide the imprint method in which transferring performance is improved by irradiation of laser light from the side of a to-be-transferred object. 
     It is noted that, the advantage of the present invention is not limited by the material, layer configuration, irradiation system, irradiation method, evaluation apparatus and so forth used in the embodiment 23. 
     The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application is based on Japanese priority applications Nos. 2008-063168, 2008-06369 and 2008-331051, filed Mar. 12, 2008, Mar. 12, 2008 and Dec. 25, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.