Patent ID: 8592103

Claim:
A method for fabricating an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask having a die pattern area, the method comprising: obtaining an EUV mask blank including a substrate and a multi-layer (ML) reflector disposed over the substrate; and annealing localized portions of the ML reflector to produce an EUV light-absorptive border extending at least partially around an outer perimeter of the die pattern area, wherein annealing comprises exposing the localized portions of the ML reflector to an energy beam to form the EUV light-absorptive border within the ML reflector, wherein exposing comprises: directing the energy beam to strike an area of the ML reflector adjacent an outermost edge of the die pattern area; and scanning the energy beam across the ML reflector in a direction substantially away from the die pattern area, and wherein scanning comprises scanning the energy beam across the ML reflector while increasing the intensity of the energy beam with increase distance from the outermost edge of the die pattern area.