Patent ID: 8052908

Claim:
A method for fabricating a far-field photolithographic mask for imprinting at least one feature at a wafer in a nano-lithography, comprising the steps of: forming a far-field photolithographic mask as a double-layer structure consisting of a first layer and a second layer by the steps of: (a) forming said first layer from an electrically-conducting optically opaque material of a predetermined thickness of approximately 100 nm on said second layer, said second layer being a mask substrate; (b) directing an energetic beam onto said first layer to mill an aperture of a predetermined diameter extending through said predetermined thickness of said first layer; (c) moving said energetic beam a predetermined distance from said aperture to mill at least another aperture through said predetermined thickness of said first layer; (d) repeating said step (c) to create at least one array of a plurality of said apertures, thereby defining at least one pattern area at said first layer, wherein said at least one pattern area filled with said array of said plurality of said apertures corresponds to the at least one feature to be created at the wafer, said apertures being spread within said at least one pattern area according to a predetermined order, wherein said at least one pattern area has a predetermined periphery including a plurality of corners; and forming correctional structures outside said at least one pattern area and adjacent said plurality of corners along said periphery of said at least one pattern area, wherein each of said correctional structures is formed by mill on n×n matrix of correctional holes by said energetic beam through said predetermined thickness of said layer, wherein n is an integer and 1≦n≦3.