Abstract: A radiation source includes a fuel supply configured to deliver fuel to a plasma emission location for vaporization by a laser beam to form a plasma, and a collector configured to collect EUV radiation emitted by the plasma and direct the EUV radiation towards an intermediate focus. The collector includes a diffraction grating configured to diffract infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. The radiation source includes a radiation conduit located in between the collector and the intermediate focus. The radiation conduit includes an entrance aperture connected by an inwardly tapering body to an exit aperture. The radiation conduit includes an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being closer to the intermediate focus than the outer portion. The inner portion is configured to reflect incident diffracted infrared radiation towards the outer portion.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid confinement system configured to confine fluid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. The fluid confinement system includes a fluid inlet to supply fluid, the fluid inlet connected to an inlet port and an outlet port. The immersion lithographic apparatus further includes a fluid supply system configured to control fluid flow through the fluid inlet by varying the flow rate of fluid provided to the inlet port and the flow rate of fluid removed from the outlet port.

Abstract: A method for determining an image of a mask pattern in a resist coated on a substrate, the method including determining an aerial image of the mask pattern at substrate level; and convolving the aerial image with at least two orthogonal convolution kernels to determine a resist image that is representative of the mask pattern in the resist.

Abstract: A positioning device includes a planar motor having a stator and a translator, one of the stator and the translator including a periodic magnet structure and another of the stator and the translator including at least one coil that is adapted to carry an electric current, wherein the coil includes a wound strip of sheet-like electrically conductive material, and wherein an edge of the coil is provided with a rounded profile.

Abstract: A measurement system is configured to derive a position quantity of an object, the measurement system includes at least one position quantity sensor configured to provide respective position quantity measurement signals; a position quantity calculator configured to determine a position quantity of the object from the position quantity measurement signal, wherein the position quantity calculator includes a torsion estimator configured to estimate a torsion of the object, the position quantity calculator being configured to correct the determined position quantity of the object for the estimated torsion.

Abstract: In a lithographic method, a characteristic of a projection system is measured before and after periods of heating (exposures) and cooling to provide data to calibrate a model of lens heating. The model has a part modeling the effect of cooling and a part modeling the effect of heating on the characteristic.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which a gas knife is shaped and a liquid removal device is positioned to improve removal of liquid from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A grazing incidence reflector (300) for EUV radiation includes a first mirror layer (310) and a multilayer mirror structure (320) beneath the first mirror layer. The first mirror layer reflects at least partially EUV radiation incident on the reflector with grazing incidence angles in a first range, and the first mirror layer transmits EUV radiation in a second range of incidence angles, which overlaps and extends beyond the first range of incidence angles. The multilayer mirror structure reflects EUV radiation that is incident on the reflector with grazing incidence angles in a second range that penetrates through the first mirror layer. A grazing incidence reflector can be used in a lithographic apparatus and in manufacturing a device by a lithographic process.

Abstract: A control system configured to position a control location of a movable object in two or more degrees of freedom with respect to another object, including a set-point generator, a position quantity measurement system, a controller including a single input-single output controller for each degree of freedom to control a position quantity of the control location, each controller providing a control signal in logical coordinates on the basis of the error signal; and a gain scheduling device to provide center-of-gravity control signals in center-of gravity coordinates on the basis of the control signals, wherein the gain scheduling device includes a static and a dynamic relationship between logical coordinates and center-of-gravity coordinates of the movable object.

Abstract: A level sensor for measuring a position of a surface of a substrate includes a projection unit including an emitter for emitting a radiation beam towards the substrate and a projection grating including a measurement grating and an aperture, such that the radiation beam incident on the projection grating is divided into a measurement radiation beam and a capture radiation beam. The level sensor further includes a detection unit including a first and second measurement detector, a first and second capture detector, a detection grating, and a first and second optical unit. The detection grating includes a ruled grating with multiple rules, which direct radiation towards the first and second measurement detector via the first and second optical unit, and a capture element directing radiation towards the first and second capture detector via the first and second optical unit.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illuminator configured to provide a projection beam of radiation and a polarization controller configured to control an intensity of a preferred state of polarization of the projection beam. The lithographic apparatus further includes a support configured to hold a patterning device. The patterning device configured to pattern the projection beam according to a desired pattern. The apparatus also includes a substrate table configured to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate to form a patterned image on the substrate.

Abstract: A method of removing liquid from a substrate supported on a substrate table and from a gap between the substrate and the substrate table includes: providing a liquid removal device with at least one outlet connected to an under pressure source, the outlet forming an elongated extractor of a predetermined geometry; relatively moving the substrate table and the liquid removal device such that the extractor is adapted to pass over all of the substrate and gap and such that substantially at any given time any local part of the extractor at the edge of a non-dried portion of the gap has, in a plane, its local tangent orientated at an angle of between about 35° and 90° to the local tangent of the gap.

Abstract: A gas manifold to direct a gas flow between two plates of an optical component of a lithographic apparatus, the gas manifold having an inlet, a diffuser downstream of the inlet, a flow straightener downstream of the inlet, a contractor downstream of the flow straightener, and an outlet downstream of the contractor.

Abstract: A gas manifold to direct a gas flow between two parallel plates of an optical component of a lithographic apparatus, the gas manifold having an inlet to provide a gas flow to the gas manifold, a lattice comprising a plurality of through holes to homogenize the gas flow, a contractor downstream of the lattice to reduce the cross sectional area through which the gas flow flows, and an outlet downstream of the contractor to provide the gas flow to the two parallel plates.

Abstract: A lithography apparatus includes a projection system configured to project a radiation beam onto a substrate, a detector configured to inspect the substrate, and a substrate table configured to support the substrate and move the substrate relative to the projection system and the detector. The detector is arranged to inspect a portion of the substrate while the substrate is moved and before the portion is exposed to the radiation beam.

Abstract: A immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which one or more liquid diverters are positioned in a space surrounded by a liquid confinement structure. A function of the liquid diverter(s) is to hinder the formation of one or more recirculation zones of immersion liquid which may lead to variations in refractive index of the immersion liquid in the space and thereby imaging errors.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern and a projection system configured to project the modulated beams onto the substrate. The modulator includes a deflector to displace the plurality of beams with respect to an exposure area.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed for use with an immersion liquid positioned between the projection system and a substrate. Several methods and mechanism are disclosed to protect components of the projection system, substrate table and a liquid confinement system. These include providing a protective coating on a final element of the projection system as well as providing one or more sacrificial bodies upstream of the components. A two component final optical element of CaF2 is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for determining overlay of a pattern on a substrate with a mask pattern defined in a resist layer on top of the pattern on the substrate. A first grating is provided under a second grating, each having substantially identical pitch to the other, together forming a composite grating. A first illumination beam is provided under an angle of incidence along a first horizontal direction. The intensity of a diffracted beam from the composite grating is measured. A second illumination beam is provided under the angle of incidence along a second horizontal direction. The second horizontal direction is opposite to the first horizontal direction. The intensity of the diffracted beam from the composite grating is measured. The difference between the diffracted beam from the first illumination beam and the diffracted beam from the second illumination beam, linearly scaled, results in the overlay error.

Abstract: The present invention relates to lithographic apparatuses and processes, and more particularly to tools for optimizing illumination sources and masks for use in lithographic apparatuses and processes. According to certain aspects, the present invention significantly speeds up the convergence of the optimization by allowing direct computation of gradient of the cost function. According to other aspects, the present invention allows for simultaneous optimization of both source and mask, thereby significantly speeding the overall convergence. According to still further aspects, the present invention allows for free-form optimization, without the constraints required by conventional optimization techniques.