Abstract: A radiation source includes a chamber, a supply constructed and arranged to supply a substance to the chamber at a location that allows the substance to pass through an interaction point within the chamber, a laser constructed and arranged to provide a laser beam to the interaction point so that a radiation emitting plasma is produced when the laser beam interacts with he substance at the interaction point, and a conduit constructed and arranged to deliver unheated buffer gas into the chamber at a location adjacent to the interaction point at a rate that removes heated buffer gas from a region around the interaction point before a subsequent interaction between the laser beam and the substance at the interaction point.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic projection apparatus has a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate, the confinement structure having a buffer surface, when in use, positioned in close proximity to a plane substantially comprising the upper surface of the substrate and of a substrate table holding the substrate, to define a passage having a flow resistance. A recess is provided in the buffer surface, the recess, when in use, being normally full of immersion liquid to enable rapid filling of a gap between the substrate and substrate table as the gap moves under the buffer surface. The recess may be annular or radial and a plurality of recesses may be provided.

Abstract: A method of removing a substrate from a substrate table of a lithographic apparatus. The substrate table is provided with a mask arranged to form a peripheral exposure exclusion region on a substrate. The method includes moving the mask from an in use position to a storage position. The storage position is adjacent to a projection system of the lithographic apparatus. The method also includes removing the substrate from the lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device manufacturing method comprising identifying a substrate to be processed, performing a manufacturing step of a patterned layer on the substrate, and storing a substrate process history for the substrate. The history may comprise a correction map comprising position errors caused by the manufacturing step. Identifying the substrate may be done by reading an identification sign present on the substrate or by reading an identification code of a lot comprising the substrate and determining a sequence number of the substrate in the lot. Alignment of the substrate with respect to a patterning device of a lithographic apparatus may be corrected using information of the substrate process history. Alternatively or additionally, measured overlay errors may be corrected per substrate using information of the substrate process history.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method is provided in which exposure is carried out by projecting through a liquid having a pH of less than 7, the liquid being in contact with a substrate to be exposed. The liquid advantageously comprises an anti-reflective topcoat.

Abstract: An alignment measurement arrangement includes a source, an optical system and a detector. The source generates a radiation beam with a plurality of wavelength ranges. The optical system receives the radiation beam, produces an alignment beam, directs the alignment beam to a mark located on an object, receives alignment radiation back from the mark, and transmits the received radiation. The detector receives the alignment radiation and detects an image of the alignment mark and outputs a plurality of alignment signals, r, each associated with one of the wavelength ranges. A processor, in communication with the detector, receives the alignment signals, determines signal qualities of the alignment signals; determines aligned positions of the alignment signals, and calculates a position of the alignment mark based on the signal qualities, aligned positions, and a model relating the aligned position to the range of wavelengths and mark characteristics, including mark depth and mark asymmetry.

Abstract: A method is provided for positioning at least one target portion of a substrate with respect to a focal plane of a projection system. The method comprises performing height measurements of at least part of the substrate to generate height data, using predetermined correction heights to compute corrected height data for the height data. The method further comprises positioning the target portion of the substrate with respect to the focal plane of the projection system at least partially based on the corrected height data.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method is provided in which exposure is carried out by projecting through a liquid having a pH of less than 7, the liquid being in contact with a substrate to be exposed. The liquid advantageously comprises an anti-reflective topcoat.

Abstract: A barrier member is provided for use in immersion lithography. The barrier member includes an extractor assembly on a bottom surface configured to face the substrate. The extractor assembly includes a plate configured to split the space between a liquid removal device and the substrate in two such that a meniscus is formed in an upper channel between the liquid removal device and the plate and below the plate between the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a system to compensate for the effect of thermal distortion of the substrate table on position measurements of the substrate table using lateral mirrors in the substrate table. Methods of calibrating a lithographic apparatus using various substrate table scan trajectories and measurements of the localized position and rotation of lateral mirrors in the substrate table are presented. A dual stage lithographic apparatus with alignment marks defining the geometry of a lateral mirror used only at the exposure station to measure the geometry of the lateral mirror when the substrate table is at the measurement station.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus disclosed that has a radiation source configured to provide a measurement beam of radiation such that an individually controllable element of an array of individually controllable elements capable of modulating a beam of radiation, is illuminated by the measurement beam and redirects the measurement beam, and a detector arranged to receive the redirected measurement beam and determine the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector, the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector being indicative of a characteristic of the individually controllable element.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described having a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate with liquid, a barrier member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space, and one or more elements to control and/or compensate for evaporation of liquid from the substrate.

Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling a support structure in a lithographic apparatus. The control system includes a first measurement system arranged to measure the position of a substrate supported by the support structure, the position being measured in a first coordinate system. The control system further includes a second measurement system for measuring the position of the support structure in a second coordinate system, the first measurement system having a presumed position in the second coordinate system.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes a first object and a second object; a positioning system configured to position the first and the second objects with respect to each other; and a flexible transportation line that is connected to the first and the second objects, the flexible transportation line having a stiffness that varies along the flexible transportation line such that the flexible transportation line can be represented by a dynamic transfer function, the dynamic transfer function being adapted to a closed-loop transfer function of the positioning system.

Abstract: An assembly for detection of at least one of radiation flux and contamination on an optical component includes a detector configured to receive at least one of the radiation flux and contamination, and when the assembly is in use, to generate a detector signal correlated to at least one of the radiation flux and contamination on the component. A meter is configured to measure the detector signal. The detector includes at least one wire.

Abstract: A lithographic system includes a monitored lithographic projection apparatus arranged to project a patterned beam onto a substrate. A scatterometer measures a plurality of parameters of the pattern transferred to the substrate including at least one CD-profile parameter and at least one further parameter of the pattern transferred to the substrate which is indicative of a machine setting of the monitored lithographic projection apparatus. A matching system includes a database storing information representative of reference CD values and reference values for the further feature. A comparison arrangement compares the measured values with the corresponding stored values, a lithographic parameter calculation means calculating a corrected set of machine settings for the monitored lithographic apparatus dependent on the differences between the measured and reference values.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is provided with an electrode set to remove unwanted droplets of an immersion fluid from a particular surface. Unwanted droplets of immersion fluid may form on any number of different surfaces of the immersion apparatus, such as on a liquid barrier member. If allowed to evaporate and/or dry, these droplets may cause a problem such as uncontrolled heat loading of the apparatus and/or staining of the surface. An electrode set is provided on a surface where the droplets are likely to be formed. A controlled voltage is applied to the electrodes within the electrode set in order to electrostatically remove the droplets from the surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a level sensor configured to measure a height level of a substrate comprising: a projection unit to project a measurement beam on the substrate, a detection unit to receive the measurement beam after reflection on the substrate, a processing unit to calculate a height level on the basis of the reflected measurement beam received by the detection unit, wherein the level sensor further comprises a tilt measuring device, wherein the tilt measuring device is arranged to receive at least partially the reflected measurement beam, and configured to provide a tilt signal representative for a tilt of the substrate with respect to a nominal plane.

Abstract: A level sensor configured to determine a height level of a substrate is disclosed. The level sensor includes a projection unit to project a measurement beam having a substantially periodic radiation intensity on the substrate; a detection unit to receive the measurement beam after reflection on the substrate, the detection unit having a detection grating arranged to receive the reflected measurement beam, the detection grating comprising at least one array of three or more segments together having a length substantially equal to a length of a period of the measurement beam projected on the detection grating, and configured to split the reflected measurement beam in three or more reflected measurement beam parts, and three or more detectors each arranged to receive one of the three or more measurement beam parts; and a processing unit to calculate a height level on the basis of the measurement beam parts.

Abstract: A level sensor arrangement is useable for measuring a height of a surface of a substrate in a lithographic apparatus. The level sensor arrangement is provided with a light source emitting detection radiation towards the substrate, and a detector unit for measuring radiation reflected from the substrate in operation. The light source is arranged to emit detection radiation in a wavelength range in which a resist to be used for processing the substrate in the lithographic apparatus is sensitive.