Abstract: A liquid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus comprises a droplet controller configured to allow a droplet of immersion liquid to be lost from the structure and to prevent the droplet from colliding with the meniscus of the confined immersion liquid. The droplet controller may comprise gas knives arranged to overlap to block an incoming droplet. There may be extraction holes lined up with gaps between gas knives to extract liquid that passes through the gap. A droplet is allowed to escape through the gaps.

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: An immersion lithographic apparatus typically includes a fluid handling system. The fluid handling system generally has a two-phase fluid extraction system configured to remove a mixture of gas and liquid from a given location. Because the extraction fluid comprises two phases, the pressure in the extraction system can vary. This pressure variation can be passed through the immersion liquid and cause inaccuracy in the exposure. To reduce the pressure fluctuation in the extraction system, a buffer chamber may be used. This buffer chamber may be connected to the fluid extraction system in order to provide a volume of gas which reduces pressure fluctuation. Alternatively or additionally, a flexible wall may be provided somewhere in the fluid extraction system. The flexible wall may change shape in response to a pressure change in the fluid extraction system. By changing shape, the flexible wall can help to reduce, or eliminate, the pressure fluctuation.

Abstract: A meniscus pinning device has a plurality of openings through which liquid and gas from the environment are extracted. The openings are of an intermediate size, having a maximum cross-sectional dimension (e.g., diameter) in the range of from about 75 ?m to about 150 ?m.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The fluid handling structure has, on an undersurface, a liquid supply opening or a plurality of liquid supply openings and a liquid extraction opening or a plurality of liquid extraction openings arranged such that, in use, liquid is provided on and removed from the undersurface of the fluid handling structure.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure to confine immersion liquid in a space between a projection system and a facing surface of a substrate, of a table to support the substrate, or both, is disclosed. The fluid handling structure includes a transponder to dissolve at least some of the gas in a bubble in the immersion liquid or to control a bubble in the immersion liquid so that it avoids entering an optical path of a beam from the projection system.

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 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 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 method of removing liquid from a substrate supported on a substrate table and from a gap between the substrate and the substrate table includes: providing a liquid removal device with at least one outlet connected to an under pressure source, the outlet forming an elongated extractor of a predetermined geometry; relatively moving the substrate table and the liquid removal device such that the extractor is adapted to pass over all of the substrate and gap and such that substantially at any given time any local part of the extractor at the edge of a non-dried portion of the gap has, in a plane, its local tangent orientated at an angle of between about 35° and 90° to the local tangent of the gap.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus typically includes a fluid handling system. The fluid handling system generally has a two-phase fluid extraction system configured to remove a mixture of gas and liquid from a given location. Because the extraction fluid comprises two phases, the pressure in the extraction system can vary. This pressure variation can be passed through the immersion liquid and cause inaccuracy in the exposure. To reduce the pressure fluctuation in the extraction system, a buffer chamber may be used. This buffer chamber may be connected to the fluid extraction system in order to provide a volume of gas which reduces pressure fluctuation. Alternatively or additionally, a flexible wall may be provided somewhere in the fluid extraction system. The flexible wall may change shape in response to a pressure change in the fluid extraction system. By changing shape, the flexible wall can help to reduce, or eliminate, the pressure fluctuation.

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 is provided for a lithographic apparatus having at a boundary between a space containing immersion fluid and a region external to the fluid handling structure, a plurality of openings arranged in a first line, a first gas knife device having an aperture in a second line, one or more openings in a third line and a second gas knife device having an aperture in a fourth line.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure has a plurality of openings acting as a meniscus pinning system operating on the gas drag principle and a gas knife outwardly of the meniscus pinning system to break-up any film of liquid left behind. The separation between the gas knife and the meniscus pinning system is selected from the range of 1 mm to 5 mm. Desirably the underside of a barrier member in which the gas knife and the meniscus pinning system are provided is continuous, e.g. has no openings, between the gas knife and the meniscus pinning system.

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 fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure to confine liquid to a space, the fluid handling structure having, on an undersurface surrounding the space, a liquid supply opening to supply liquid onto an undersurface of the fluid handling structure and, radially inward with respect to the space of the liquid supply opening, a two dimensional array of liquid extraction openings to extract a liquid from the space and to extract liquid on the undersurface from the liquid supply opening.

Abstract: A barrier member is provided for use in immersion lithography. The barrier member includes 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 method of operating a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes moving a substrate table supporting a substrate relative to a projection system and adjusting the scanning speed between the substrate table and the projection system during imaging of a target within a predefined area at or near an edge of the substrate, or adjusting the stepping speed between adjacent target positions in a predefined area at or near the edge of the substrate, or both. The adjusting the scanning and/or stepping speed may comprise lowering the speed. The projection system is configured to project a patterned beam of radiation on to a target portion 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 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.