Abstract: The optical elements for ultraviolet radiation, especially for microlithography, are made from cubic granet, cubic spinel, cubic perovskite and/or cubic M(II)- as well as M(IV)-oxides. The optical elements are made from suitable crystals of Y3Al5O12, Lu3Al5O12, Ca3Al2Si3O12, K2NaAlF6, K2NaScF6, K2LiAlF6 and/or Na3Al2Li3F12, (Mg, Zn)Al2O4, CaAl2O4, CaB2O4 and/or LiAl5O8, BaZrO3 and/or CaCeO3. A front lens used in immersion optics for microlithography at wavelengths under 200 nm is an example of a preferred optical element of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new class of compound useful as liquid for immersion lithography, said liquid comprising molecules so that said liquid is substantially transparent at a wavelength used for said liquid immersion lithography, wherein a degree of polarization of light, which is incident on a sample of said liquid in a forward direction and which is scattered in a direction perpendicular to said forward direction within a plane of scattering defined by said forward direction and said direction perpendicular to said forward direction, is larger than 0.9. Suited liquids are, for example, such comprising molecules transparent to UV radiation, wherein said molecules are high-symmetric molecules. Suited compounds are defined by A(R)4 wherein A is defined to be a 4-valent element and R is selected from —(C)n— and —(Si)n—, with n=1 to 10, wherein the remaining valences of the carbon or silica are saturated by one (or more) selected from hydrogen and a halogen.

Abstract: The optical elements for ultraviolet radiation, especially for microlithography, are made from cubic granatite, cubic spinel, cubic perovskite and/or cubic M(II)- as well as M(IV)-oxides. The optical elements are made from suitable crystals of Y3Al5O12, Lu3Al5O12, Ca3Al2Si3O12, K2NaAlF6, K2NaScF6, K2LiAlF6 and/or Na3Al2Li3F12, (Mg, Zn)Al2O4, CaAl2O4, CaB2O4 and/or LiAl5O8, BaZrO3 and/or CaCeO3. A front lens used in immersion optics for microlithography at wavelengths under 200 nm is an example of a preferred optical element of the present invention.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate material for an optical component for X-rays of wavelength ?R. The substrate includes (a) a glass phase made of amorphous material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, and (b) a crystal phase including microcrystallites having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion and a mean size of less than about 4 ?R. The substrate material has a stoichiometric ratio of the crystal phase to the glass phase such that a coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate material is less than about 5×10?6 K?1 in a temperature range of about 20 °C. to 100°C. The substrate material, following a surface treatment, has a high spatial frequency roughness (HSFR) of less than about ?R/30 rms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new class of compound useful as liquid for immersion lithography, said liquid comprising molecules so that said liquid is substantially transparent at a wavelength used for said liquid immersion lithography, wherein a degree of polarization of light, which is incident on a sample of said liquid in a forward direction and which is scattered in a direction perpendicular to said forward direction within a plane of scattering defined by said forward direction and said direction perpendicular to said forward direction, is larger than 0.9. Suited liquids are, for example, such comprising molecules transparent to UV radiation, wherein said molecules are high-symmetric molecules. Suited compounds are defined by A(R)4 wherein A is defined to be a 4-valent element and R is selected from —(C)n— and —(Si)n—, with n=1 to 10, wherein the remaining valences of the carbon or silica are saturated by one (or more) selected from hydrogen and a halogen.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate material for an optical component for X-rays of wavelength &lgr;R. The substrate includes (a) a glass phase made of amorphous material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, and (b) a crystal phase including microcrystallites having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion and a mean size of less than about 4 &lgr;R. The substrate material has a stoichiometric ratio of the crystal phase to the glass phase such that a coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate material is less than about 5×10−6 K−1 in a temperature range of about 20° C. to 100° C. The substrate material, following a surface treatment, has a high spatial frequency roughness (HSFR) of less than about &lgr;R/30 rms.

Abstract: An apparatus is used to make microchips in which monochromatic light issuing from a light source is guided to a photomask that is held in a predetermined position in which the monochromatic light rays are combined with a lens system and directed to a wafer. The supporting plate is a rectangular plate made from glass or glass-ceramic material that has a receptacle for holding the photomask. In order to provide a supporting plate according to the invention with weight that is as small as possible and with a dynamic stiffness as high as possible, the rectangular plate is provided with front-edge elongated blind holes extending in side edge regions along both long edges of the rectangular plate in the plane of the plate, as well as with other recesses. The elongated blind holes are preferably thin-walled and have a box-like shape.