Disclosed herein is a point-diffraction interferometer which can inspect
a surface quality of an optical system for extreme ultraviolet lithography using
a high-order harmonic X-ray source with excellent coherence, and an apparatus and
method for generating a high-order harmonic X-ray. The present invention uses a
high-order harmonic X-ray beam as a coherence light source, thus remarkably reducing
the size of an apparatus for generating a light source to approximately 1/100 of
a device using a light source generated in a conventional synchrotron. Further,
the present invention simplifies the construction of an interferometer by employing
a thin foil in which a pinhole is formed through a drilling technique using high
power femtosecond laser, thus increasing the industrial utility of the interferometer.