Abstract: A light beam is applied to a front surface of an optical depolarizer. The depolarizer rotates the polarization of light received on different surface positions by different amounts, so that the average incoming polarization is scrambled. The depolarizer has a first and second body that transmit first and second polarization components of the beam with mutually different speeds of light. Each body has two wedge shaped parts of variable thickness, corresponding wedge shaped parts in the two bodies providing light paths of substantially position independent lengths, but with variable rotation of polarization. The wedge shape parts of the front body form a concave input surface for the incoming beam. This prevents cross-over of light between the different wedge shaped parts.

Abstract: An anamorphotic telescope has mutually different magnification along directions of minimum and maximum magnification in an image plane. A spectroscope with an elongated input slit directed along one of the directions of maximum and minimum magnification may be located in the image plane. The anamorphotic telescope has a first and second reflector lens with mutually different first and second radii of curvature in directions (y, x) that optically correspond to directions of minimum and maximum magnification. At least one of the first and second reflector lens has a variable radius of curvature in one direction (x), which varies as a function of position in the other direction (y), the variable radius of curvature decreasing in a direction of the angle from the view direction to the light directed by the first reflector lens to the second reflector lens.

Abstract: A light beam is applied to a front surface of an optical depolarizer. The depolarizer rotates the polarization of light received on different surface positions by different amounts, so that the average incoming polarization is scrambled. The depolarizer has a first and second body that transmit first and second polarization components of the beam with mutually different speeds of light. Each body has two wedge shaped parts of variable thickness, corresponding wedge shaped parts in the two bodies providing light paths of substantially position independent lengths, but with variable rotation of polarization. The wedge shape parts of the front body form a concave input surface for the incoming beam. This prevents cross-over of light between the different wedge shaped parts.

Abstract: An anamorphotic telescope has mutually different magnification along directions of minimum and maximum magnification in an image plane. A spectroscope with an elongated input slit directed along one of the directions of maximum and minimum magnification may be located in the image plane. The anamorphotic telescope has a first and second reflector lens with mutually different first and second radii of curvature in directions (y, x) that optically correspond to directions of minimum and maximum magnification. At least one of the first and second reflector lens has a variable radius of curvature in one direction (x), which varies as a function of position in the other direction (y), the variable radius of curvature decreasing in a direction of the angle from the view direction to the light directed by the first reflector lens to the second reflector lens.

Abstract: A grating for EUV-radiation includes a plurality of reflecting lines. Each reflecting line includes a plurality of first reflecting dots, and a plurality of second reflecting dots arranged between each other. The first reflecting dots and the second reflecting dots are configured to reflect EUV-radiation with a mutual phase difference of 180±10 degrees mod 360 degrees.

Abstract: An optical element, especially a normal-incidence collector mirror, for radiation in the EUV and/or soft X-ray region of wavelengths is described. The element has a substrate, a multilayer coating with an optically active region, and a capacitor, having a first and a second capacitor electrode. At least one layer of the multilayer coating serves as the first capacitor electrode. At least one dielectric layer is provided between the two capacitor electrodes. Also described is an optical system with at least one optical element, having a first electrode arranged in the vicinity of the optical element.

Abstract: A grating for EUV-radiation includes a plurality of reflecting lines. Each reflecting line includes a plurality of first reflecting dots, and a plurality of second reflecting dots arranged between each other. The first reflecting dots and the second reflecting dots are configured to reflect EUV-radiation with a mutual phase difference of 180±10 degrees mod 360 degrees.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inspecting a specimen surface. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of primary beams directed towards the specimen surface, focussing the plurality of primary beams onto respective loci on the specimen surface, collecting a plurality of secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the primary beams, converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam, and detecting the optical beam.

Abstract: An optical element, especially a normal-incidence collector mirror, for radiation in the EUV and/or soft X-ray region of wavelengths is described. The element has a substrate, a multilayer coating with an optically active region, and a capacitor, having a first and a second capacitor electrode. At least one layer of the multilayer coating serves as the first capacitor electrode. At least one dielectric layer is provided between the two capacitor electrodes. Also described is an optical system with at least one optical element, having a first electrode arranged in the vicinity of the optical element.

Abstract: An optical element, especially a normal-incidence collector mirror, for radiation in the EUV and/or soft X-ray region of wavelengths is described. The element has a substrate, a multilayer coating with an optically active region, and a capacitor, having a first and a second capacitor electrode. At least one layer of the multilayer coating serves as the first capacitor electrode. At least one dielectric layer is provided between the two capacitor electrodes. Also described is an optical system with at least one optical element, having a first electrode arranged in the vicinity of the optical element.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes an alignment sensor having an electron beam source constructed and arranged to provide an electron beam for impinging on an alignment marker on a substrate, and a back-scattered electron detector constructed and arranged to detect electrons back-scattered from the alignment marker. The alignment sensor is independent of the projection system and beam of radiation, and is an off-axis alignment sensor.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes an alignment sensor having an electron beam source constructed and arranged to provide an electron beam for impinging on an alignment marker on a substrate, and a back-scattered electron detector constructed and arranged to detect electrons back-scattered from the alignment marker. The alignment sensor is independent of the projection system and projection radiation, and is an off-axis alignment sensor.