Abstract: In a holding and positioning apparatus for an optical element, the optical element is mounted in a mounting ring and the mounting ring is mounted via at least one manipulator unit. The manipulator unit has a linear actuating element. The manipulator unit has a manipulator head, a movable manipulator part and a manipulator foot, the manipulator head being connected to the movable manipulator part via a solid body joint. The movable manipulator part is connected to the manipulator foot via an actuator and at least one solid body joint, the linear actuating element being coupled to the manipulator foot and the actuator.

Abstract: An arrangement serves for the adjustment of an optical element (1), in particular of a lens in an optical system, in particular in a projection lens system for semiconductor lithography. The optical element (1) is mounted in a mount (3) by means of a number of bearing feet (2) distributed over the circumference of the optical element (1) and is selectively deformable by actuators (5). At least some of the bearing feet (2) are engaged by the actuators (5) in a region of the respective bearing foot (2) in such a way that the respective bearing foot (2) can be displaced in the direction of the optical axis (7).

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography has a light source, an illumination system, a mask-positioning system and a projection lens. The latter has a system aperture plane and an image plane and contains at least one lens that is made of a material which has a birefringence dependent on the transmission angle. The exposure apparatus further has an optical element, which has a position-dependent polarization-rotating effect or a position-dependent birefringence. This element, which is provided close to a pupil plane of the projection exposure apparatus, compensates at least partially for the birefringent effects produced in the image plane by the at least one lens.

Abstract: A arrangement serves for the adjustment of an optical element (1), in particular of a lens in an optical system, in particular in a projection lens system for semiconductor lithography. The optical element (1) is mounted in a mount (3) by means of a number of bearing feet (2) distributed over the circumference of the optical element (1) and is selectively deformable by actuators (5). At least some of the bearing feet (2) are engaged by the actuators (5) in a region of the respective bearing foot (2) in such a way that the respective bearing foot (2) can be displaced in the direction of the optical axis (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for connecting an optical element of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus to a mount, and also relates to an assembly. A process includes the following steps: forming a substance mixture at a processing temperature from at least a first component, which is solid at the processing temperature, and a second component, which is liquid at the processing temperature, the first component being dispersed in the second component, introducing the substance mixture in the unset state between the optical element and the mount, and setting the substance mixture so as to form a diffusion alloy from the first and second components.

Abstract: The invention relates to an objective, particularly a projection objective for use in semiconductor lithography, comprising optical elements such as lenses (16) and mirrors (11a). According to the invention, at least a portion of the optical elements (16, 11a) is provided with a reflective surface outside of the optically active area serving as the reference surface (12) for a the optical element inside the objective (8).

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: In a facet mirror with a number of mirror facets, wherein the mirror facets are provided with reflecting surfaces, the mirror facets are mounted jointly in a basic body via bearing devices. The mirror facets comprise mirror bodies contacting at the periphery with the bearing devices via a surface, line or point contact. The preferred field of use of the facet mirrors is a projection objective of a projection exposure machine in microlithography for fabricating semiconductor elements.

Abstract: An imaging device in a projection exposure machine for microlithography comprises at least one optical element and at least one manipulator, a linear drive for manipulating the position of the optical element. Said linear drive has at least one moving element, said moving element having a shearing part and a lifting part. Said shearing part is arranged to move the optical element and said lifting part is arranged to move said shearing part. Said linear drive has a supporting element which is in contact with and prevents movement of the optical element while the shearing part is moved by the lifting part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding a beam splitter element having an optically active beam splitter layer in an optical imaging device, the beam splitter element being connected to at least one support element that is fastened in the housing of the imaging device. The connection between the beam splitter element and said at least one support element is designed in such a way that the position of the beam splitter layer of the beam splitter element remains nearly constant relative to the housing independently of temperatures and of thermal stresses acting upon the beam splitter element.

Abstract: In an apparatus for positioning an optical element in a structure, particularly in an objective housing of a projection objective for microlithography, the optical element is connected to the structure via fastening elements. The position of the optical element is set by means of adjusting fasteners.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for tilting a carrier for optical elements with two optical faces which are arranged together on a carrier and are fixed at a fixed angle to one another, the carrier being fastened on a base plate via articulated connections. The carrier can be pivoted about three tilting axes, a first tilting axis preferably being located in the plane of the first optical face and extending normal to the plane of the second optical face, the second tilting axis preferably being located in the plane of the second optical face and extending normal to the plane of the first optical face, and the third tilting axis being located parallel to the line of intersection between the two planes of the optical element.

Abstract: An objective, in particular a projection objective in microlithography for producing semiconductor components, is assembled from a number of individual housing structures (4, 5), optical elements being arranged in each housing structure (4, 5), and a number of optical axes (15, 16, 18, 35) being formed by the housing structures (4, 5). At least one first housing structure (4) is provided with seats (22, 23, 24, 25) on which one or more further housing structures (5) and/or optical subassemblies (6, 8, 11, 14) are adjusted and are connected to the first housing structure (4).

Abstract: In a holding and positioning apparatus for an optical element, the optical element is mounted in a mounting ring and the mounting ring is mounted via at least one manipulator unit. The manipulator unit has a linear actuating element. The manipulator unit has a manipulator head, a movable manipulator part and a manipulator foot, the manipulator head being connected to the movable manipulator part via a solid body joint. The movable manipulator part is connected to the manipulator foot via an actuator and at least one solid body joint, the linear actuating element being coupled to the manipulator foot and the actuator.

Abstract: An objective is provided with a plurality of lenses, mirrors and at least one beam splitter element (20) inserted in an objective housing (1). One or more surfaces (26, 27, 28), situated in the beam path, of the beam splitter element (20) are provided as correction aspherics. The beam splitter element (20) can be provided with manipulators (22) that are arranged on a manipulator carrier (23) which is permanently connected to the objective housing.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography has a light source, an illumination system, a mask-positioning system and a projection lens. The latter has a system aperture plane and an image plane and contains at least one lens that is made of a material which has a birefringence dependent on the transmission angle. The exposure apparatus further has an optical element, which has a position-dependent polarization-rotating effect or a position-dependent birefringence. This element, which is provided close to a pupil plane of the projection exposure apparatus, compensates at least partially for the birefringent effects produced in the image plane by the at least one lens.

Abstract: In an apparatus for positioning an optical element in a structure, particularly in an objective housing of a projection objective for microlithography, the optical element is connected to the structure via fastening elements. The position of the optical element is set by means of adjusting fasteners. The fastening elements are arranged in such a way and the adjusting fasteners can be actuated in such a way that the optical element can be tilted about three mutually independent axes and can additionally be displaced in a translatory fashion in one axial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding a beam splitter element having an optically active beam splitter layer in an optical imaging device, the beam splitter element being connected to at least one support element that is fastened in the housing of the imaging device. The connection between the beam splitter element and said at least one support element is designed in such a way that the position of the beam splitter layer of the beam splitter element remains nearly constant relative to the housing independently of temperatures and of thermal stresses acting upon the beam splitter element.

Abstract: In a method for correcting oscillation-induced imaging errors in an objective, in particular a projection objective in microlithography for fabricating semiconductor elements, an at least first objective part and a second objective part are provided. In this case, the first objective part has a first optical axis and the second objective part has an optical axis which deviates from the first optical axis. Beam deflection takes place between the two objective parts via at least one optical beam deflection element. The oscillations occurring in the second objective part are measured and evaluated by means of a sensor system. The results are used as input data for a device, which adjusts the beam direction in the objective, in such a way that imaging errors occurring as a result of the oscillations of the second objective part are compensated for.

Abstract: A catadioptric lens with optical elements, which are arranged along an optical axis and with at least one concave mirror located in the vicinity of a pupillar surface of the projection lens. The concave mirror is sub-divided into a number of annular or honeycomb mirror segments, which can be displaced independently in relation to one another with the aid of piezoelectric drive elements. The mirror can be used as a phase-shifting pupillar filter, whereby the filtration function can be adjusted by the relative displacement of the mirror elements in relation to one another.