Abstract: A method of fabricating a device using a lithographic process, the method comprising applying a layer of radiation sensitive resist on top of the device, applying a metallic layer on top of the resist layer, and exposing a part of the resist layer to radiation while coupling the metallic layer to a fixed potential so as to apply an electric field across the resist layer, the direction of the electric field being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the resist layer.

Abstract: A vacuum operated lithographic apparatus includes a vacuum housing for providing a vacuum environment to a support constructed to support a patterning device, or a substrate table, or a projection system, or any combination thereof. An interior of the vacuum housing includes a plurality of transport circuits for transporting fluids and/or electrical signals for use in a first process mode for lithographic processing. At least one of the transport circuits is adapted to transport energy towards the interior of the vacuum housing to stimulate outgassing in the vacuum housing for use in a second process mode for bringing the lithographic apparatus into a vacuum operating condition.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam and a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate. Further, the lithographic apparatus includes a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, the projection system being mounted to a reference element of the lithographic apparatus by a resilient mount to reduce a transfer of high frequency vibration from the reference element to the projection system and a control system to counteract a position error of the substrate table and the support relative to the projection system.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed that has a convex mirror and a concave mirror with an aperture, wherein, in use, radiation from a radiation emitter passes through the aperture and is incident upon the convex mirror before being incident upon the concave mirror, the optical apparatus arranged to form the radiation into a radiation beam, wherein the concave mirror is translatable towards and away from the convex mirror or the convex mirror is translatable towards and away from the concave mirror, to adjust divergence of the radiation beam.

Abstract: In a method according to one embodiment of the invention, aberrations in a lithographic apparatus are detected by printing a test pattern having at least one degree of symmetry and being sensitive to a particular aberration in the apparatus, and using a scatterometer to derive information concerning the aberration. The test structure may comprise a two-bar grating, in which case the inner and outer duty ratios can be reconstructed to derive information indicative of comatic aberration. Alternatively, a hexagonal array of dots can be used, such that scatterometry data can be used to reconstruct dot diameters indicative of 3-wave aberration.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system including a movable optical element. The movable optical element is capable, by a displacement thereof to influence a position quantity of a radiation beam projected by the projection system. A control device is provided to drive the optical element actuator to influence a position quantity of the movable optical element, thereby influencing a position quantity of the radiation beam as projected by the projection system. The control device is adapted to move the movable optical element to position the radiation beam as projected by the projection system with respect to the substrate, or to correct a position quantity of the radiation beam as projected by the projection system caused by any type of disturbance on the projection system.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to provide a beam of radiation and projection system configured to project the radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate. At least one of the illumination system and the projection system includes a focusing element for reflecting or refracting the beam. A plurality of stop discs is provided, each having an aperture therethrough, together with a disc positioner configured to place one of the stop discs adjacent the focusing element to control the numerical aperture (NA) of the projection system or illumination system. The apparatus further includes a disc changer configured to select one of the stop discs and provide the selected stop disc to the disc positioner, the disc changer being external to the projection system or illumination system.

Abstract: In a method according to one embodiment of the invention, aberrations in a lithographic apparatus are detected by printing a test pattern having at least one degree of symmetry and being sensitive to a particular aberration in the apparatus, and using a scatterometer to derive information concerning the aberration. The test structure may comprise a two-bar grating, in which case the inner and outer duty ratios can be reconstructed to derive information indicative of comatic aberration. Alternatively, a hexagonal array of dots can be used, such that scatterometry data can be used to reconstruct dot diameters indicative of 3-wave aberration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic apparatus comprising an illumination system for providing a projection beam of radiation. The illumination system comprises at least one movable optical element (7), such that a projection beam of radiation (4) can be shifted around a central position. This ensures that inhomogeneities in the intensity distribution in the projection beam (4) will be smeared out, which in turn provides an improved homogeneity of the exposure of a surface to be illuminated by the system, such as a wafer or other substrate. The optical element (7) may comprise a motor movable mirror, prism, filter, lens, axicon, diffuser, diffractive optical array, optical integrator, etc. The invention further provides a device manufacturing method, using a lithographic apparatus according to the invention, wherein the optical element is moved, in order to provide an optimum homogeneity for the projection beam of radiation.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system for providing a projection beam of radiation, a support structure for supporting patterning structure for imparting a pattern to the projection beam, a substrate table for holding a wafer and a projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of the wafer. In order to permit control of the radiation dose at the wafer so that the throughput of wafers can be optimised, a variable attenuator is provided to vary the intensity of the projection beam while not changing the position of the beam.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a projection system that includes a plurality of mirrors arranged to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The lithographic apparatus further includes an autofocus system having a light source, a position sensitive detector, and a light directing arrangement for directing a first portion of light from the light source to the position sensitive detector. The light directing arrangement further directs a second portion of light from the light source into the projection system and, after the second portion of light has traveled through the projection system to the substrate and back through the projection system to the light directing arrangement, the second portion of light is directed onto the position sensitive detector.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus contains a projection system configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate. The projection system contains one or more optically active mirrors and heat shields located to intercept heat radiation to or from the mirrors and/or their support. The heat shields are actively cooled and the mirrors and the heat shields and the mirrors are supported separately on a support frame to reduce vibration of the mirrors due to active cooling. The heat shields may include heat shields that intercept heat radiation to or from the support and/or respective heat shields for individual mirrors that intercept heat radiation to or from the mirrors.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus including a radiation attenuator or a variable aperture system, such as masking blades, arranged in or adjacent an intermediate focus of the projection system. Besides a radiation attenuator or a variable aperture system, a measuring system may be arranged in the intermediate focus. By placing one or more of such systems in or adjacent the intermediate focus of the projection system, instead of adjacent the reticle in the illumination system, fewer design restrictions occur because of more space available, resulting in a lower design cost.

Abstract: A controlled aperture provides an opening through a barrier separating two parts of the apparatus to enable a pulse of radiation to be radiated from one part of the apparatus to the a second part. The controlled aperture closes the opening between the pulses of radiation to minimize the gas flow between the first and second parts.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes an active reflector in a radiation system providing a projection beam of radiation and/or in a projection system. The active reflector includes a body member, a reflective multilayer and at least one actuator controllable to adjust the surface figure of the reflecting multilayer, wherein the actuator exerts a substantial force component in a direction parallel to the surface figure of said reflective multilayer. The actuator may be operative to apply torques to said reflector.

Abstract: A measurement system configured to measure wave front aberrations of a projection system, as well as a lithographic apparatus including such a measurement system, is provided wherein the measurement system includes a diffractive element and structure configured to increase the pupil filling of the radiation in the pupil of the projection system, both movable into the projection beam between a radiation system and the projection system, and a sensor module configured to sense radiation that has traversed the projection system to measure wave front aberrations of the projection system.

Abstract: A reflective mask has a sub-resolution texture applied to absorbing areas to reduce the amount of power in the specular reflection. The texture may form a phase contrast grating or may be a diffuser. The same technique may be applied to the other absorbers in a lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes an active reflector in a radiation system providing a projection beam of radiation and/or in a projection system. The active reflector includes a body member, a reflective multilayer and at least one actuator controllable to adjust the surface figure of the reflecting multilayer, wherein the actuator exerts a substantial force component in a direction parallel to the surface figure of said reflective multilayer. The actuator may be operative to apply torques to said reflector.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes an active reflector in a radiation system providing a projection beam of radiation and/or in a projection system. The active reflector includes a body member, a reflective multilayer and at least one actuator controllable to adjust the surface figure of the reflecting multilayer, wherein the actuator exerts a substantial force component in a direction parallel to the surface figure of said reflective multilayer. The actuator may be operative to apply torques to said reflector.

Abstract: A measurement system configured to measure wave front aberrations of a projection system, as well as a lithographic apparatus including such a measurement system, is provided wherein the measurement system includes a diffractive element and structure configured to increase the pupil filling of the radiation in the pupil of the projection system, both movable into the projection beam between a radiation system and the projection system, and a sensor module configured to sense radiation that has traversed the projection system to measure wave front aberrations of the projection system.