The object is to provide a mask blank substrate, a mask blank, and a transfer mask which can achieve easy correction of a wavefront by a wavefront correction function of an exposure apparatus. The further object is to provide methods for manufacturing them.

A virtual surface shape, which is an optically effective flat reference surface shape defined by a Zernike polynomial, is determined, wherein the Zernike polynomial is composed of only terms in which the order of variables related to a radius is second or lower order and includes one or more terms in which the order of the variables related to a radius is second-order; and the mask blank substrate, in which difference data (PV value) between the maximum value and the minimum value of difference shape between a virtual surface shape and a composite surface shape obtained by composing respective surface shapes of two main surfaces is 25 nm or less, is selected.

An enamel paste composition is provided for fabricating a coated glass article includes a glass substrate, an enamel layer disposed on the glass substrate, and a thin coating having a thickness of no greater than 0.5 micrometres disposed on the enamel layer. The enamel paste composition is formulated such that it provides a smooth surface and does not crystallize during processing of the coated glass article, thereby improving the quality of the thin coating disposed thereon.

A heating cooker includes: a top plate on which a cooking container to be heated is placed; an outer case as a main body having an upper surface on which the top plate is placed; a heater heating the cooking container; and a light emitting device disposed in the outer case, for displaying the heating state. The top plate includes: a glass substrate having a transparent light-transmitting low-expansion crystallized glass made mainly of Li.sub.2OAL.sub.2O.sub.3SiO.sub.2 and having -quartz solid solution, having a crystal size smaller than the wavelength of visible light; a design layer having a black-based color disposed on an undersurface of the glass substrate; a diffusion region disposed partially on an undersurface of the design layer, for diffusedly emitting light from the light emitting device; and a light-blocking layer disposed on the undersurface of the design layer other than the diffusion region, for blocking light from below.

A process for obtaining a material includes a substrate coated on at least one portion of at least one of its faces with a coating including at least one discontinuous metallic thin layer based on silver, on gold, or on any alloy thereof, the or each discontinuous metallic thin layer being encapsulated between at least two dielectric thin layers, and the or each discontinuous metallic thin layer being in the form of periodic geometric patterns, the process including a deposition step then a step wherein the substrate thus coated is made to run opposite at least one laser device emitting a laser radiation focused on the coating in the form of at least one line, the power of the radiation being adapted in order to render the or each metallic thin layer discontinuous by dewetting.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to sputtered aluminum second surface mirrors with permanent protective coatings optionally provided thereto, and/or methods of making the same. A mirror coating supported by a substrate may include, for example, first and second silicon-inclusive layers sandwiching a metallic or substantially metallic layer including aluminum, and an optional layer including Ni and/or Cr in direct contact with the metallic or substantially metallic layer comprising aluminum. A protective paint is disposed directly over and contacting an outermost layer of the mirror coating. The protective paint, once applied and cured, is adapted to survive seven day exposure to an 85 degree C. temperature at 85% relative humidity, as well as seven day exposure to a 49 degree C. temperature at 100% relative humidity.