Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is described in which a two-phase flow is separated into liquid-rich and gas-rich flows by causing the liquid-rich flow to preferentially flow along a surface.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size.

Abstract: A liquid confinement system for use in immersion lithography is disclosed in which the meniscus of liquid between the liquid confinement system and the substrate is pinned substantially in place by a meniscus pinning feature. The meniscus pinning feature comprises a plurality of discrete outlets arranged in a polygonal shape.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure successively having, at a boundary from a space configured to comprise immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: an extractor having at least one opening arranged in a first line that, in use, is directed towards a substrate and/or a table; and a liquid manipulator on a surface that, in use, faces the substrate and/or table to reduce the chance of droplets on the surface from coalescing.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is described in which a two-phase flow is separated into liquid-rich and gas-rich flows by causing the liquid-rich flow to preferentially flow along a surface.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus has adaptations to prevent or reduce bubble formation in one or more gaps in the substrate table by preventing bubbles escaping from the gap into the beam path and/or extracting bubbles that may form in the gap.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary of a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a gas supply opening at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and optionally a gas recovery opening radially outward of the gas supply opening, wherein the gas supply opening, or the gas recovery opening, or both the gas supply opening and the gas recovery opening, has an open area per meter length which has a variation peripherally around the space.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and a gas recovery opening radially outward of the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array.

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 fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The fluid handling structure has a plurality of openings arranged in plan, in a line. The fluid handling structure is configured such that the openings are directed, in use, towards a facing surface, the facing surface being a substrate and/or a substrate table. The substrate table is configured to support the substrate. Outward of the line of openings is a damper. The damper may have a width that varies along the line of openings. The damper width is defined between the line of openings and an opposing damper edge.

Abstract: A radiation source suitable for providing radiation to a lithographic apparatus generates radiation from a plasma (12) generated from a fuel (31) within an enclosure comprising a gas. The plasma generates primary fuel debris collected as a fuel layer on a debris-receiving surface ((33a), (33b)). The debris-receiving surface is heated to a temperature to maintain the fuel layer as a liquid, and to provide a reduced or zero rate of formation gas bubbles within the liquid fuel layer in order to reduce contamination of optical surfaces (14) by secondary debris arising from gas bubble eruption from the liquid fuel layer. Additionally or alternatively, the radiation source may have a debris receiving surface positioned and/or oriented such that substantially all lines normal to the debris receiving surface do not intersect an optically active surface of the radiation source.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and a gas recovery opening radially outward of the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array.

Abstract: A source-collector device includes a target unit having a target surface of plasma-forming material and a laser unit to generate a beam of radiation directed onto the target surface to form a plasma from said plasma-forming material. A contaminant trap is provided to reduce propagation of particulate contaminants generated by the plasma. A radiation collector includes a one or more grazing-incidence reflectors arranged to collect radiation emitted by the plasma and form a beam therefrom, and a filter is configured to attenuate at least one wavelength range of the beam.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is configured to subject a photosensitive layer on a substrate to a patterned beam of radiation via a liquid. The immersion lithographic apparatus includes a moveable object having a surface, a fluid handling system to control a presence of the liquid in a volume restricted by the surface, the fluid handling system, and a free surface of the liquid, the free surface extending between the surface and the fluid handling system; and a heating system configured to locally heat a portion of the liquid at a receding side of a periphery edge of the volume in contact with the surface, where the object is receding from the volume along a direction of movement of the object relative to the fluid handling system.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The fluid handling structure has a plurality of openings arranged in plan, in a line. The fluid handling structure is configured such that the openings are directed, in use, towards a facing surface, the facing surface being a substrate and/or a substrate table. The substrate table is configured to support the substrate. Outward of the line of openings is a damper. The damper may have a width that varies along the line of openings. The damper width is defined between the line of openings and an opposing damper edge.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed, the fluid handling structure successively has, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: an elongate opening or a plurality of openings arranged in a first line that, in use, are directed towards a substrate and/or a substrate table configured to support the substrate; a gas knife device having an elongate aperture in a second line; and an elongate opening or a plurality of openings adjacent the gas knife device.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid handling system configured to confine immersion liquid to a localized space between a final element of a projection system and a substrate and/or table and a gas supplying device configured to supply gas with a solubility in immersion liquid of greater than 5×10?3 mol/kg at 20° C. and 1 atm total pressure to an area adjacent the space.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus has adaptations to prevent or reduce bubble formation in one or more gaps in the substrate table by preventing bubbles escaping from the gap into the beam path and/or extracting bubbles that may form in the gap.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size.