Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus includes a plurality of birefringent members made of a birefringent material and arranged in an optical path on an incidence side of an optical integrator. The members change a polarization state of illumination light such that first and second rays of the illumination light are polarized in different directions on the pupil plane. The birefringent members are arranged such that an optical path length of the first ray in the birefringent material is different from an optical path length of the second ray in the birefringent material, and are arranged so as to change the polarization state of the illumination light incident on the plurality of the birefringent members in a linear polarization state having a substantially single polarization direction such that each of the first and second rays is polarized in a substantially circumferential direction about the optical axis on the pupil plane.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus includes a plurality of birefringent members made of a birefringent material and arranged in an optical path on an incidence side of an optical integrator. The members change a polarization state of illumination light such that first and second rays of the illumination light are polarized in different directions on the pupil plane. The birefringent members are arranged such that an optical path length of the first ray in the birefringent material is different from an optical path length of the second ray in the birefringent material, and are arranged so as to change the polarization state of the illumination light incident on the plurality of the birefringent members in a linear polarization state having a substantially single polarization direction such that each of the first and second rays is polarized in a substantially circumferential direction about the optical axis on the pupil plane.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus illuminates an object with illumination light. The apparatus includes a birefringent member having different thicknesses of a birefringent material at different incidence positions such that illumination light incident on the birefringent member in a first linear polarization state having a single polarization direction is in a second linear polarization state on a pupil plane, the second linear polarization state having a polarization direction being substantially coincident with a circumferential direction about an optical axis of the illumination optical apparatus.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus illuminates an object with illumination light. The apparatus includes a birefringent member having different thicknesses of a birefringent material at different incidence positions such that illumination light incident on the birefringent member in a first linear polarization state having a single polarization direction is in a second linear polarization state on a pupil plane, the second linear polarization state having a polarization direction being substantially coincident with a circumferential direction about an optical axis of the illumination optical apparatus.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus includes a plurality of birefringent members made of a birefringent material and arranged in an optical path on an incidence side of an optical integrator. The members change a polarization state of illumination light such that first and second rays of the illumination light are polarized in different directions on the pupil plane. The birefringent members are arranged such that an optical path length of the first ray in the birefringent material is different from an optical path length of the second ray in the birefringent material, and are arranged so as to change the polarization state of the illumination light incident on the plurality of the birefringent members in a linear polarization state having a substantially single polarization direction such that each of the first and second rays is polarized in a substantially circumferential direction about the optical axis on the pupil plane.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An exposure method for exposing a bright-dark pattern onto each exposure region of a substrate via a projection optical system includes a position detection process for detecting positions of a plurality of microscopic regions in a unit exposure field of the substrate, a deformation calculation step of calculating a state of deformation in the unit exposure field based on information related to the positions of the plurality of microscopic regions obtained in the position detection step, and a shape modification step of modifying the shape of the bright-dark pattern to be exposed on the substrate based on the deformation state obtained in the deformation calculation step. The microscopic regions detected in the position detection step include a circuit pattern formed in the unit exposure field.

Abstract: An exposure method and exposure apparatus optimal for the formation of a fine pattern of an electronic device, such as a flat panel display. The exposure method and apparatus provides a high resolution and is inexpensive. The exposure method exposes a pattern onto a substrate with the use of an optical system that performs interference exposure for exposing a pattern parallel to a predetermined scanning direction with an interference optical system and variable shaping exposure with a variable shaping optical system while performing relative scanning in the scanning direction.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus, used in a projection exposure apparatus for projecting and exposing a pattern arranged in a first plane to a second plane, for supplying the first surface with illumination light from a light source comprises an optical path combiner arranged in an optical path between the light source and the first surface, for combining a plurality of light beams different from each other from the light source such that the first and second light beams illuminate the first surface closely to each other. The optical path combiner includes a discrete point positioned on or near a third surface optically conjugate with the first surface. The plurality of light beams travel by way of a plurality of regions sectioned by the discrete point, respectively.

Abstract: A method for measuring wavefront information of a projection optical system includes arranging a first diffraction grating having a pitch P1 on a side of an object plane of the projection optical system; arranging a second diffraction grating having a pitch P2 which is ½ of a pitch of an image of the first diffraction grating formed by the projection optical system, on a side of an image plane of the projection optical system PL; illuminating the first diffraction grating with an illumination light; receiving interference fringes of a shearing interference light composed of two pairs of diffracted lights formed by the illumination light from the second diffraction grating via the first diffraction grating and the projection optical system; and determining the wavefront information of the projection optical system based on the received interference fringes. The wavefront information of the projection optical system can be measured highly accurately.

Abstract: An exposure system is provided for illuminating a fine pattern that may have features extending along orthogonal first and second linear directions. An illumination source may be provided having decreased intensity portions at a center and defined along the first and second directions.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and projection exposure apparatus capable of reducing a light quantity loss when a mask is illuminated with a polarized illumination light. An illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle with an illumination light and a projection optical system for projecting the pattern image of the reticle onto a wafer are provided. An illumination light emitted from an exposure light source in a linearly polarized state in the illumination optical system passes through first and second birefringent members having different fast axis directions and is converted into a polarized state that is substantially linearly polarized in a circumferential direction with the optical axis as the center in an almost specific annular area, and them illuminates the reticle under an annular illuminating condition after passing through a fly-eye lens.