Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective has a first, refractive objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part including at least one concave mirror for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; and a third, refractive objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging onto the image plane; wherein the projection objective has a maximum lens diameter Dmax, a maximum image field height Y?, and an image side numerical aperture NA; wherein COMP1=Dmax/(Y?·NA2) and wherein the condition COMP1<10 holds.

Abstract: An imaging optical system has a plurality of mirrors, which image an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. A reflection face of at least one of the mirrors is configured as a free form face which cannot be described by a rotationally symmetrical function. The object field has an aspect ratio greater than 1. A ratio of a minimal and a maximal transverse dimension of the object field can be less than 0.9.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective has a first, refractive objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part including at least one concave mirror for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; and a third, refractive objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging onto the image plane; wherein the projection objective has a maximum lens diameter Dmax, a maximum image field height Y?, and an image side numerical aperture NA; wherein COMP1=Dmax/(Y?·NA2) and wherein the condition COMP1<10 holds.

Abstract: EUV mirror with a layer arrangement on a substrate. The layer arrangement includes a plurality of layer subsystems each consisting of a periodic sequence of at least one period of individual layers. The periods include two individual layers composed of different material for a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer and have within each subsystem a constant thickness that deviates from a period thickness of an adjacent layer subsystem. The subsystem most distant from the substrate has (i) a number of periods greater than the number of periods for the layer subsystem that is second most distant from the substrate and/or (ii) a thickness of the high refractive index layer that deviates by more than 0.1 nm from that of the high refractive index layer of the subsystem that is second most distant from the substrate.

Abstract: An imaging optics has a plurality of mirrors which image an object field in an object plane in an image field in an image plane. A pupil plane is arranged in the imaging beam path between the object field and the image field. A stop is arranged in the pupil plane. The pupil plane is tilted at an angle (?) with respect to the object plane, where ? is greater than 0.1°. The imaging optics results allows for a manageable combination of small imaging errors, manageable production and good throughput.

Abstract: Imaging optics includes a first mirror in the imaging beam path after the object field, a last mirror in the imaging beam path before the image field, and a fourth to last mirror in the imaging beam path before the image field. In an unfolded imaging beam path between the object plane and the image plane, an impingement point of the chief ray on a used region of each of the plurality of mirrors has a mirror spacing from the image plane. The mirror spacing of the first mirror is greater than the mirror spacing of the last mirror. The mirror spacing of the fourth to last mirror is greater than the mirror spacing of the first mirror. Chief rays that emanate from points of the object field that are spaced apart from another have a mutually diverging beam course, giving a negative back focus of the entrance pupil.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging of a pattern, which is arranged on the object plane of the projection objective, on the image plane of the projection objective has a first objective part for imaging of an object field to form a first real intermediate image, a second objective part for production of a second real intermediate image using the radiation coming from the first objective part; and a third objective part for imaging of the second real intermediate image on the image plane. The second objective part is a catadioptric objective part with a concave mirror. A first folding mirror for deflection of the radiation coming from the object plane in the direction of the concave mirror and a second folding mirror for deflection of the radiation coming from the concave mirror in the direction of the image plane are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a catadioptric projection objective which includes a plurality of optical elements, including first, second and third refractive objection parts. Optical elements arranged between an object surface and a first pupil surface form a Fourier lens group that includes a negative lens group arranged optically close to the first pupil surface. The Fourier lens group is configured such that a Petzval radius RP at the first pupil surface satisfies the condition: |RP|>150 mm.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a projection objective for lithography includes an optical arrangement of optical elements between an object plane and an image plane. The arrangement generally has at least one intermediate image plane, the arrangement further having at least two correction elements for correcting aberrations, of which a first correction element is arranged optically at least in the vicinity of a pupil plane and a second correction element is arranged in a region which is not optically near either a pupil plane or a field plane.

Abstract: A projection objective for microlithography serves for imaging a pattern of a mask arranged in its object surface into an image field arranged in its image surface with a demagnifying imaging scale. It has a multiplicity of optical elements arranged along the optical axis of the projection objective, the optical elements being designed and arranged in such a way that the projection objective has an imageside numerical aperture NA>0.85 and a demagnifying imaging scale where |b|<0.05, and the planar image field having a minimum image field diameter suitable for microlithography of more than 1 mm.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging an off-axis object field arranged in an object surface of the projection objective onto an off-axis image field arranged in an image surface of the projection objective has a front lens group, a mirror group comprising four mirrors and having an object side mirror group entry, an image side mirror group exit, and a mirror group plane aligned transversly to the optical axis and arranged geometrically between the mirror group entry and the mirror group exit; and a rear lens group. The mirrors of the mirror group are arranged such that at least one intermediate image is positioned inside the mirror group between mirror group entry and mirror group exit, and that radiation coming from the mirror group entry passes at least four times through the mirror group plane and is reflected at least twice on a concave mirror surface of the mirror group prior to exiting the mirror group at the mirror group exit.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the disclosure provides an optical system, in particular an illumination system or a projection lens of a microlithographic exposure system, having an optical system axis and at least one element group including three birefringent elements each of which includes optically uniaxial material and having an aspheric surface, wherein a first birefringent element of the group has a first orientation of its optical crystal axis, a second birefringent element of the group has a second orientation of its optical crystal axis, wherein the second orientation can be described as emerging from a rotation of the first orientation, the rotation not corresponding to a rotation around the optical system axis by an angle of 90° or an integer multiple thereof, and a third birefringent element of the group has a third orientation of its optical crystal axis, wherein the third orientation can be described as emerging from a rotation of the second orientation, the rotation not corresponding to a rotation aroun

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective has a first, refractive objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part including at least one concave mirror for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; and a third, refractive objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging onto the image plane; wherein the projection objective has a maximum lens diameter Dmax, a maximum image field height Y?, and an image side numerical aperture NA; wherein COMP1=Dmax (Y??NA2) and wherein the condition COMP1<10 holds.

Abstract: A projection objective suitable for immersion microlithography is designed as a single-waist system with five lens groups, and has a first lens group of negative refractive power, a second lens group of positive refractive power, a third lens group of negative refractive power, a fourth lens group of positive refractive power and a fifth lens group of positive refractive power. The fourth lens group has an entrance surface (E) that lies in the vicinity of a point of inflection of a marginal ray height between the third lens group (LG3) and the fourth lens group (LG4). No negative lens of substantial refractive power is arranged between the entrance surface and the system diaphragm (5). Embodiments of inventive projection objectives achieve a very high numerical aperture NA>1 in conjunction with a large image field and are distinguished by a compact design size.

Abstract: A reduction projection objective for projection lithography has a plurality of optical elements configured to image an effective object field arranged in an object surface of the projection objective into an effective image field arranged in an image surface of the projection objective at a reducing magnification ratio |?|<1. The optical elements form a dry objective adapted with regard to aberrations to a gaseous medium with refractive index n?<1.01 filling an image space of finite thickness between an exit surface of the projection objective and the image surface. The optical elements include a largest lens having a maximum lens diameter Dmax and are configured to provide an image-side numerical aperture NA<1 in an effective image field having a maximum image field height Y?. With COMP=Dmax/(Y?·(NA/n?)2) the condition COMP<15.8 holds.

Abstract: A projection optical system comprises a plurality of lenses disposed along an optical axis of the projection optical system; wherein the plurality of lenses is dividable into four non-overlapping groups of lenses, such that a total refractive power of each group of lenses is one of a negative refractive power and a positive refractive power; and wherein a refractive power of each lens of the fourth group of lenses is equal to or greater than 0. A lens of the third group of lenses which is disposed directly adjacent to a lens of the fourth group of lenses may have a concave surface facing towards the second object.

Abstract: A reduction projection objective for projection lithography has a plurality of optical elements arranged along an optical axis and designed for imaging an effective object field arranged in an object surface of the projection objective into an effective image field arranged in an image surface of the projection objective at a reducing magnification ratio. The optical elements include at least one concave mirror. The optical elements are designed to provide an image-side numerical aperture NA>0.6 in a large effective image field having a maximum image field height Y?>25 mm. A compact, low mass projection objective enabling high throughput of exposed substrates is thereby obtained.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a projection objective for lithography includes an optical arrangement of optical elements between an object plane and an image plane. The arrangement generally has at least one intermediate image plane, the arrangement further having at least two correction elements for correcting aberrations, of which a first correction element is arranged optically at least in the vicinity of a pupil plane and a second correction element is arranged in a region which is not optically near either a pupil plane or a field plane.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface.