EUV MASK FOR MONITORING FOCUS IN EUV LITHOGRAPHY

Obtaining optimal focus for exposing a photoresist in an EUV lithography with an EUV mask containing a pattern with an assist feature is disclosed. The EUV mask contains a repeating pattern, wherein the repeating pattern has two different pitches, i.e. a first pitch and a second pitch, and contains an assist feature between main features. Because the two different pitches have different focus offsets, the difference between linewidths of said gratings provides a calibration curve which is a measure of focus. The method for monitoring focus is performing a EUV exposure using a focus position with a pre-determined focus position as calibrated using the linewidth difference between the two gratings. The EUV mask for monitoring focus of present invention is applicable to both test and product masks.