Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to provide a radiation beam; a patterning device configured to pattern the radiation beam to form a patterned radiation beam; and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a substrate. An optical assembly includes multiple optical elements two-dimensionally arranged between a radiation source and the patterning device to create a predetermined angular distribution of the radiation beam. In order to improve the uniformity of the radiation beam the optical elements are selected from a predetermined number of optical elements having different shapes and/or sizes.

Abstract: A uniformity correction module for improving the uniformity of a radiation distribution in a rectangular illumination slit having two longer sides and two shorter sides, including a plurality of movable blades arranged along each long side of the illumination slit and a chamber containing a fluid wherein said movable blades are at least partly immersed in said fluid, and wherein the difference between the refractive index of each blade and the refractive index of said fluid is sufficiently small to prevent significant reflection and refraction at the surface of each blade.

Abstract: A method for coating a substrate for EUV lithography includes coating a photoresist layer on the substrate. A device manufacturing method using a lithographic projection apparatus includes providing a substrate that is at least partially covered by a photoresist layer by coating the photoresist layer on the substrate and projecting a patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of the photoresist layer. A substrate includes a photoresist layer.