Abstract: The invention relates to a projection objective (6), in particular for applications in microlithography, serving to project an image of an object (3) arranged in an object plane (4) onto a substrate (18) arranged in an image plane (7). The projection objective (6) has an object-side-oriented part (10) which is arranged adjacent to the object plane (4) and includes a plurality of optical elements, and it also has an image-side-oriented part (11) of the objective which is arranged adjacent to the image plane (7) and includes a free space (16) serving to receive a fluid (13) and further includes at least a part of an optical end-position element (14) serving to delimit the free space (16) towards the object side. The projection objective (6) is operable in different modes of operation in which the free space (16) is filled with fluids (13) that differ in their respective indices of refraction.

Abstract: A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus contains an illumination system for generating projection light and a projection lens with which a reticle that is capable of being arranged in an object plane of the projection lens can be imaged onto a light-sensitive layer that is capable of being arranged in an image plane of the projection lens. The projection lens is designed for immersion mode, in which a final lens element of the projection lens on the image side is immersed in an immersion liquid. A terminating element that is transparent in respect of the projection is fastened between the final lens element on the image side and the light-sensitive layer.

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 for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective suitable for microlithography projection exposure machines has a plurality of optical elements transparent for radiation at an operating wavelength of the projection objective. At least one optical element is a high-index optical element made from a high-index material with a refractive index n?1.6 at the operating wavelength.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a projection lens configured to configured to image radiation from an object plane of the projection lens to an image plane of the projection lens. The projection lens can, for example, be used in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The projection lens includes a last lens on the image plane side. The last lens includes at least one intrinsically birefringent material. The material can be, for example, magnesium oxide, a garnet, lithium barium fluoride and/or a spinel. The last lens can have a thickness d which satisfies the condition 0.8*y0, max<d<1.5*y0, max, where y0, max denotes the maximum distance of an object field point from the optical axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of optical elements in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, particularly in a projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The arrangement comprises a rigid first optical element, a rigid second optical element with a first optical surface and a second optical surface on opposite sides and a first liquid. The first optical element has a concave optical surface. The first side of the second optical element is facing the concave optical surface of the first optical element. The first liquid is at least partially filling the space between the first optical element and the second optical element.

Abstract: A projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective suitable for microlithography projection exposure machines has a plurality of optical elements transparent for radiation at an operating wavelength of the projection objective. At least one optical element is a high-index optical element made from a high-index material with a refractive index n?1.6 at the operating wavelength.

Abstract: Another approach to decrease the resolution is to introduce an immersion liquid having high refractive index into the gap that remains between a final lens element on the image side of the projection objective and the photoresist or another photosensitive layer to be exposed. Projection objectives that are designed for immersion operation and are therefore also referred to as immersion objective may reach numerical apertures of more than 1, for example 1.3 or 1.4. The term “immersion liquid” shall, in the context of this application, relate also to what is commonly referred to as “solid immersion”. In the case of solid immersion, the immersion liquid is in fact a solid medium that, however, does not get in direct contact with the photoresist but is spaced apart from it by a distance that is only a fraction of the wavelength used. This ensures that the laws of geometrical optics do not apply such that no total reflection occurs.

Abstract: A projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus is disclosed. The projection objective can project an image of a mask that can be set in position in an object plane onto a light-sensitive coating layer that can be set in position in an image plane. The projection objective can be designed to operate in an immersion mode, and it can produce at least one intermediate image. The projection objective can include an optical subsystem on the image-plane side which projects the intermediate image into the image plane with an image-plane-side projection ratio having an absolute value of at least 0.3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projection objective (6), in particular for applications in microlithography, serving to project an image of an object (3) arranged in an object plane (4) onto a substrate (18) arranged in an image plane (7). The projection objective (6) has an object-side-oriented part (10) which is arranged adjacent to the object plane (4) and includes a plurality of optical elements, and it also has an image-side-oriented part (11) of the objective which is arranged adjacent to the image plane (7) and includes a free space (16) serving to receive a fluid (13) and further includes at least a part of an optical end-position element (14) serving to delimit the free space (16) towards the object side. The projection objective (6) is operable in different modes of operation in which the free space (16) is filled with fluids (13) that differ in their respective indices of refraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an objective designed as a microlithography projection objective for an operating wavelength. The objective has a greatest adjustable image-side numerical aperture NA, at least one first lens made from a solid transparent body, in particular glass or crystal, with a refractive index nL and at least one liquid lens (F) made from a transparent liquid, with a refractive index nF. At the operating wavelength the first lens has the greatest refractive index nL of all solid lenses of the objective, the refractive index nF of the at least one liquid lens (F) is bigger than the refractive index nL of the first lens and the value of the numerical aperture NA is bigger than 1.

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: 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 method of manufacturing an optical element (5) comprises testing an optical surface (3) of the optical element, using an interferometer 1a directing measuring light (23a) onto the optical surface wherein the measuring light traverses two successive holograms (44, 48) disposed in the beam path of the measuring light upstream of the optical surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an objective designed as a microlithography projection objective for an operating wavelength. The objective has a greatest adjustable image-side numerical aperture NA, at least one first lens made from a solid transparent body, in particular glass or crystal, with a refractive index nL and at least one liquid lens (F) made from a transparent liquid, with a refractive index NF. At the operating wavelength the first lens has the greatest refractive index nL of all solid lenses of the objective, the refractive index nF of the at least one liquid lens (F) is bigger than the refractive index nL of the first lens and the value of the numerical aperture NA is bigger than 1.

Abstract: A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a projection objective which images an object onto an image plane and has a lens with a curved surface. In the projection objective there is a liquid or solid medium which directly adjoins the curved surface over a region which is usable for imaging the object. The projection exposure apparatus also has an adjustable manipulator for reducing an image field curvature which is caused by heating of the medium during the projection operation.

Abstract: A refractive projection optical system for imaging a first object into a region of a second object comprises a plurality of lenses disposed along an imaging beam path of the projection optical system; wherein the projection optical system is configured to have a numerical aperture on a side of the second object of greater than 1 wherein the projection optical system is configured to generate an intermediate image of the first object and to image the intermediate image into the region of the second object, wherein the intermediate image is formed in between the first and second objects.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical element includes testing the optical element by using an interferometer optics generating a beam of measuring light illuminating only a sub-aperture of the tested optical element. The interferometer optics comprises a hologram. Results of the sub-aperture measurement are stitched together to obtain a measuring result with respect to the full surface of the optical element. Further, a method of calibrating the interferometer optics includes performing an interferometric measurement using a calibrating optics having a hologram covering only a sub-aperture of the full cross section of the beam of measuring light generated by the interferometer optics and stitching together the sub-aperture measurements to obtain a result indicative for the full cross section of the interferometer optics.

Abstract: The invention relates to an objective designed as a microlithography projection objective for an operating wavelength. The objective has a greatest adjustable image-side numerical aperture NA, at least one first lens made from a solid transparent body, in particular glass or crystal, with a refractive index nL and at least one liquid lens (F) made from a transparent liquid, with a refractive index nF. At the operating wavelength the first lens has the greatest refractive index nL of all solid lenses of the objective, the refractive index nF of the at least one liquid lens (F) is bigger than the refractive index nL of the first lens and the value of the numerical aperture NA is bigger than 1.

Abstract: Imaging system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus with a projection objective (200, 300, 500, 600) that serves to project an image of a mask which can be set into position in an object plane onto a light-sensitive coating layer which can be set into position in an image plane, and with a liquid-delivery device (205) serving to fill immersion liquid (202, 310, 507) into an interstitial space between the image plane and a last optical element (201, 309, 506) on the image-plane side of the projection objective; wherein the last optical element on the image-plane side of the projection objective is arranged so that, seen in the direction of gravity, it follows the image plane; and wherein the projection objective is configured in such a way that when the system is operating with immersion, the immersion liquid has at least in some areas a convex-curved surface facing in the direction away from the image plane.