Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the transmissivity of a pellicle membrane, the apparatus including an etching unit configured to etch material from the pellicle membrane, and a controller configured to control the etching unit to etch the pellicle membrane based on a predicted and/or observed wear pattern of the pellicle membrane. Also a method of adjusting the transmissivity of a pellicle membrane as well as a pellicle membrane, a pellicle assembly, and the use of the same.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a radiation receiving apparatus provided with an opening operable to receive radiation from a radiation source through the opening; wherein the radiation receiving apparatus comprises a deflection apparatus arranged to change a trajectory of a particle through the opening arriving at the radiation receiving apparatus.

Abstract: An inspection system that include a selective deposition tool configured to receive a sample and selectively deposit a material onto the sample, an inspection tool configured to perform an inspection process on the sample provided with the deposited material, and an enclosure configured to enclose the selective deposition tool and the inspection tool.

Abstract: A first diffusor configured to receive and transmit radiation has a plurality of layers, each layer arranged to change an angular distribution of EUV radiation passing through it differently. A second diffusor configured to receive and transmit radiation has a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is formed from a first material, the first layer including a nanostructure on at least one surface of the first layer. The second layer is formed from a second material adjacent to the at least one surface of the first layer such that the second layer also includes a nanostructure. The second material has a refractive index that is different to a refractive index of the first layer. The diffusors may be configured to receive and transmit EUV radiation.

Abstract: An assembly for a lithographic apparatus, wherein the assembly is configured to heat a pellicle membrane by one of or a combination selected from: i) provision of heated gas, ii) radiative heating, iii) resistive heating, and/or iv) inductive heating, and/or by illuminating the pellicle membrane with light having a wavelength of from around 91 nm to around 590 nm. Also a method of extending the operative lifespan of a pellicle membrane, the method including heating at least a portion of a pellicle membrane when illuminated by EUV by one of or a combination selected from: i) providing heated gas, ii) radiative heating, iii) resistive heating, and/or iv) inductive heating to effect heating of the at least one portion of the pellicle membrane, and/or by illuminating the pellicle membrane with light having a wavelength of from around 91 nm to around 590 nm.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a space configured for placing a medium to receive a first radiation for generating a second radiation. In operation, the second radiation propagates coaxially with the first radiation after the medium. The assembly further comprises an optical element after the medium for transmitting or reflecting the first radiation with a surface area. The assembly is configured such that, in operation, a cleaning gas is in contact with the surface area. A reactive medium is generated from at least a part of the cleaning gas by the second radiation for removing a contamination from the surface area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) optics (e.g., one or more mirrors of a VUV) of a substrate inspection system is disclosed. The cleaning system ionizes or disassociates hydrogen gas in a VUV optics environment to generate hydrogen radicals (e.g., H*) or ions (e.g., H+, H2+, H3+), which remove water or hydrocarbons from the surface of the one or more mirrors. The one or more VUV mirrors may include a reflective material, such as aluminum. The one or more VUV mirrors may have a protective coating to protect the reflective material from any detrimental reaction to the hydrogen radicals or ions. The protective coating may include a noble metal.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising: a clamping surface for supporting a substrate, wherein a property of the clamping surface is defined by at least one clamping surface parameter, and wherein the property of the clamping surface has been selected to exhibit low wear; a clamping apparatus for actuating a clamping operation between the clamping surface and the substrate, wherein the clamping operation is defined at least in part by at least one interface characteristic between the clamping surface and the substrate; and a processing station, operable to apply an adjustment to a first property of the substrate to optimize at least one interface characteristic of a particular clamping operation in dependence on the clamping surface parameter and at least one substrate surface parameter which defines a second property of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a component for use in a lithographic apparatus, the apparatus including at least one cleaning module or a plurality of cleaning modules, wherein the at least one cleaning module or the plurality of cleaning modules include a plurality of cleaning mechanisms, and wherein the plurality of cleaning mechanisms include: at least one preparing mechanism for reducing adhesion of the particles to the component and at least one removing mechanism for removing particles from the component, or a plurality of removing mechanisms for removing particles from the component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) optics (e.g., one or more mirrors of a VUV) of a substrate inspection system is disclosed. The cleaning system ionizes or disassociates hydrogen gas in a VUV optics environment to generate hydrogen radicals (e.g., H*) or ions (e.g., H+, H2+, H3+, which remove water or hydrocarbons from the surface of the one or more mirrors. The one or more VUV mirrors may include a reflective material, such as aluminum. The one or more VUV mirrors may have a protective coating to protect the reflective material from any detrimental reaction to the hydrogen radicals or ions. The protective coating may include a noble metal.

Abstract: A membrane cleaning apparatus for removing particles from a membrane, the apparatus including: a membrane support for supporting the membrane; and a pressure pulse generating mechanism including one or more laser energy sources configured to generate a pressure pulse in a gas. The one or more energy laser sources may be focused to generate a pressure pulse in a gaseous atmosphere. The pressure pulse serves to dislodge particles on the membrane.

Abstract: A method for providing a wear-resistant material on a body. A composite body that may be obtained by the method. The composite body may be a substrate holder or a reticle clamp for use in a lithographic apparatus. The method includes providing a body made of glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic; providing a wear-resistant material having a hardness of more than 20 GPa; and brazing or laser welding the wear-resistant material to the body.

Abstract: Membranes for EUV lithography are disclosed. In one arrangement, a membrane has a stack having layers in the following order: a first capping layer including an oxide of a first metal; a base layer including a compound having a second metal and an additional element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, C and N; and a second capping layer including an oxide of a third metal, wherein the first metal is different from the second metal and the third metal is the same as or different from the first metal.

Abstract: A membrane cleaning apparatus for removing particles from a membrane, the apparatus including a membrane support and an electric field generating mechanism. The membrane support is for supporting the membrane. The electric field generating mechanism is for generating an electric field in the vicinity of the membrane when supported by the membrane support. The electric field generating mechanism may include: one or more collector electrodes; and a mechanism for applying a voltage across a membrane supported by the membrane support and the or each of the one or more collector electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a partially oxidized reticle and pellicle assembly, the apparatus including: a support; a hydrogen supply; and an electron source. The support is for supporting a reticle and pellicle assembly. The hydrogen supply is operable to supply hydrogen in the vicinity of a pellicle of a reticle and pellicle assembly when supported by the support. The electron source is operable to direct electrons so as to be incident on a pellicle of a reticle and pellicle assembly when supported by the support.

Abstract: Membranes for EUV lithography are disclosed. In one arrangement, a membrane has a stack having layers in the following order: a first capping layer including an oxide of a first metal; a base layer including a compound having a second metal and an additional element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, C and N; and a second capping layer including an oxide of a third metal, wherein the first metal is different from the second metal and the third metal is the same as or different from the first metal.

Abstract: A membrane cleaning apparatus for removing particles from a membrane, the apparatus including a membrane support and an electric field generating mechanism. The membrane support is for supporting the membrane. The electric field generating mechanism is for generating an electric field in the vicinity of the membrane when supported by the membrane support. The electric field generating mechanism may include: one or more collector electrodes; and a mechanism for applying a voltage across a membrane supported by the membrane support and the or each of the one or more collector electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a radiation receiving apparatus provided with an opening operable to receive radiation from a radiation source through the opening; wherein the radiation receiving apparatus comprises a deflection apparatus arranged to change a trajectory of a particle through the opening arriving at the radiation receiving apparatus.

Abstract: An object, such as a sensor for an immersion lithographic apparatus, has an outer layer which comes in contact with immersion liquid and wherein the outer layer has a composition including a rare earth element. There is also provided an immersion lithographic apparatus having such an object and a method for manufacturing such an object.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising: a clamping surface for supporting a substrate, wherein a property of the clamping surface is defined by at least one clamping surface parameter, and wherein the property of the clamping surface has been selected to exhibit low wear; a clamping apparatus for actuating a clamping operation between the clamping surface and the substrate, wherein the clamping operation is defined at least in part by at least one interface characteristic between the clamping surface and the substrate; and a processing station, operable to apply an adjustment to a first property of the substrate to optimize at least one interface characteristic of a particular clamping operation in dependence on the clamping surface parameter and at least one substrate surface parameter which defines a second property of the substrate.