Patent ID: 8071263

Claim:
A reflective mask comprising: a reflective layer that reflects EUV light; a buffer layer containing Cr that is arranged on the reflective layer and covers an entire surface of the reflective layer; and an absorber, arranged on the reflective layer, to absorb the EUV light, the absorber being used as a mask pattern to be reduced and transferred onto a wafer, wherein a thickness of the buffer layer is selected such that a difference between a first contrast and a second contrast falls in an allowable range, the first contrast being a contrast between the EUV light reflected on the reflective layer and with which the wafer is irradiated, and the EUV light reflected on the absorber and with which the wafer is irradiated when the buffer layer is arranged only below the absorber, and the second contrast being a contrast between the EUV light reflected on the reflective layer and with which the wafer is irradiated, and the EUV light reflected on the absorber and with which the wafer is irradiated when the buffer layer is arranged on the entire surface of the reflective layer.