A polarization evaluation mask for evaluating the state of polarization of
an illumination light in exposure equipment comprises a transparent
substrate; a light interceptor formed in said transparent substrate and
having a plurality of fine apertures; a plurality of polarizers formed to
cover said plurality of fine apertures and having orientation angles of
the transmissive polarization differing in increments of certain angle;
and a plurality of quarter-wave plates arranged upstream of said
illumination light than said polarizers and formed as superimposed on
said polarizers to cover said fine apertures, and having orientation
angles of the fast axis differing in increments of certain angle. Each of
said plurality of fine apertures has a different combination of said
orientation angle of said polarizer and said orientation angle of said
quarter-wave plate.