Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is cleaned by use of a cleaning liquid consisting essentially of ultra-pure water and (a) a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ozone, or (b) hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of up to 5%, or (c) ozone at a concentration of up to 50 ppm, or (d) oxygen at concentration of up to 10 ppm, or (e) any combination selected from (a)-(d).

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which a gas knife is shaped and a liquid removal device is positioned to improve removal of liquid from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that is arranged to project a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate, the lithographic apparatus has a substrate table configured to hold a substrate. The substrate table includes a conditioning system configured to hold a conditioning fluid and to condition the substrate table. The conditioning system includes a pressure damper that is in fluid communication with the conditioning system and is arranged to dampen a pressure variation in the conditioning system.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic exposure apparatus in which the pH of the top coat of the immersion liquid is chosen so as to maximize the relative speed at which a part of the liquid supply system and the substrate W can be moved relative to each other without collapse of a meniscus extending between those components.

Abstract: In an immersion lithographic apparatus, bubble formation in immersion liquid is reduced or prevented by reducing a gap size or area on a substrate table and/or covering the gap.

Abstract: A barrier member is disclosed for use in immersion lithography. The barrier member comprises an extractor assembly on a bottom surface configured to face the substrate. The extractor assembly includes a plate configured to split the space between a liquid removal device and the substrate in two such that a meniscus is formed in an upper channel between the liquid removal device and the plate and below the plate between the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: A barrier member is disclosed for use in immersion lithography. The barrier member comprises an extractor assembly on a bottom surface which faces the substrate. The extractor assembly includes a plate which splits the space between a liquid removal device and the substrate in two such that a meniscus is formed in an upper channel between the liquid removal device and the plate and a meniscus is formed in a lower channel between the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which measures are taken to prevent or reduce the presence of bubbles in liquid through which the projection beam radiates. This may be done, for example, by ensuring that a gap between a substrate and a substrate table is filled with immersion liquid or by causing a localized flow radially outwardly from the optical axis in the vicinity of the edge of the substrate.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is provided with a liquid confinement structure which defines at least in part a space configured to contain liquid between the projection system and the substrate. In order to reduce the crossing of the edge of the substrate which is being imaged (which can lead to inclusion of bubbles in the immersion liquid), the cross-sectional area of the space in a plane parallel to the substrate is made as small as possible. The smallest theoretical size is the size of the target portion which is imaged by the projection system. In an embodiment, the shape of a final element of the projection system is also changed to have a similar size and/or shape in a cross-section parallel to the substrate to that of the target portion.

Abstract: A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may be applied to measure the positions of features in a alignment region on a mask with a sensor. The positions of the features in the alignment region are known from the design. A feature of which the position is measured, is identified by comparing the relative positions between measured features with relative positions known from the design. The known position of the identified feature is subtracted from a measured position of the identified feature to give the position of the mask.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation source configured to provide radiation to an illumination system, the radiation source configured to provide radiation in a first wavelength range and in a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different from the first wavelength range. A support is configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device is configured to impart the radiation with a pattern in its cross-section. A substrate table is configured to hold a substrate, and a projection system is configured to project the patterned radiation onto a target portion of a substrate. The first wavelength range is the primary wavelength of the lithographic apparatus. The second wavelength range is used for setup of the lithographic apparatus, the setup including one or more of calibration, qualification, performance test, and alignment. The second wavelength range may also be used for exposure of a further substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system for providing a beam of radiation, a support structure constructed to support a patterning device, which serves to impart the projection beam with a pattern in its cross-section, a substrate table for holding a substrate, a projection system that projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate, and a reference frame with a position sensor and the substrate being located thereon. The apparatus further includes a heat transport system having a heating element, in thermal interaction with at least one of the projection system and the reference frame, for heat transport to or from at least one of the projection system and the reference frame, wherein the heat transport system, is coupled to a further frame which is mechanically isolated from the reference frame.