Abstract: A projection optical system comprises eight reflectors and forms a reduced image of a first surface (4) onto a second surface (7). It comprises a first reflective imaging optical system (G1) for forming an intermediate image of the first surface and a second reflective imaging optical system (G2) for forming an image of the intermediate image onto the second surface. The first reflective imaging optical system includes a first reflector (M1), a second reflector (M2), a third reflector (M3), and a fourth reflector (M4) successively as light enters from the first surface side. The second reflective imaging optical system includes a fifth reflector (M5), a sixth reflector (M6), a seventh reflector (M7), and an eighth reflector (M8) successively as light enters from the first surface side. This realizes a reflective projection optical system which can favorably correct aberrations while having a favorable reflection characteristic with respect to X-rays and keeping the reflectors from becoming bulky.

Abstract: An 8-mirror reflecting type projection optical system. A first reflecting image forming optical system forms an intermediate image of a first surface and a second reflecting image forming optical system forms an image of that intermediate image on a second surface. The first reflecting image forming optical system has a first reflecting mirror M1, a second reflecting mirror M2, a third reflecting mirror M3, and a fourth reflecting mirror M4. The second reflecting image forming optical system has a fifth reflecting mirror M5, a sixth reflecting mirror M6, a seventh reflecting mirror M7, and an eighth reflecting mirror M8. The first reflecting mirror M1, the fourth reflecting mirror M4, the fifth reflecting mirror M5, and the eighth reflecting mirror M8 have concave reflecting surfaces, and the seventh reflecting mirror M7 has a convex reflecting surface. One of the second reflecting mirror M2 and the third reflecting mirror M3 has a concave reflecting surface, and the other has a convex reflecting surface.

Abstract: A reflective-type projection optical system has 8 reflective mirrors that form a reduced image of a first surface on a second surface. A first reflective imaging optical system (G1) forms an intermediate image of the first surfaces and a second reflective imaging optical system (G2) forms an image of the intermediate image on the second surface. The first reflective imaging optical system has, from the first surface side in order of light beam incidence, a first reflective mirror (M1), a second reflective mirror (M2), a third reflective mirror (M3), and a fourth reflective mirror (M4). The second reflective imaging optical system has, from the first surface side in order of light beam incidence, a fifth reflective mirror (M5), a sixth reflective mirror (M6), a seventh reflective mirror (M7), and an eighth reflective mirror (M8). At least one of the reflective surfaces of these 8 reflective mirrors is composed of a spherical surface.

Abstract: A projection optical system is a catoptric system in which a field of view region and an imaging region are located spaced from an optical axis, in which a numerical aperture of light reaching each point on an image plane is substantially uniform regardless of an image height and a direction. An aperture stop for defining the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is provided, and the aperture stop is provided with an aperture portion in a predetermined shape in which the numerical aperture of light reaching each point within a predetermined region is substantially uniform over the predetermined region, that is, in a shape in which dimensions concerning two directions perpendicular to each other are different from each other.

Abstract: Projection-optical systems are disclosed that have a large image-side NA of, e.g., ?0.45, and that allow inspection for surface-shape errors of reflecting surfaces with prescribed precision. A first reflective image-forming optical system forms an intermediate image of a first surface. A second reflective image-forming optical system forms a reduced image, on a second surface, of the intermediate image. The first reflective image-forming optical system has a first concave mirror, a second convex mirror, a third mirror, and a fourth concave mirror. The second reflective image-forming optical system has a fifth concave mirror, a sixth mirror, a seventh convex mirror, and an eighth concave mirror. If the absolute value of the center radius of curvature of the reflective surface of the second mirror is RM2, and the maximum object height on the first surface is H0, then the condition 1<RM2/H0<6 is satisfied.

Abstract: A reflective-type projection optical system has 8 reflective mirrors that form a reduced image of a first surface on a second surface. A first reflective imaging optical system (G1) forms an intermediate image of the first surface, and a second reflective imaging optical system (G2) forms an image of the intermediate image on the second surface. The first reflective imaging optical system has, from the first surface side in order of light beam incidence, a first reflective mirror (M1), a second reflective mirror (M2), a third reflective mirror (M3), and a fourth reflective mirror (M4). The second reflective imaging optical system has, from the first surface side in order of light beam incidence, a fifth reflective mirror (M5), a sixth reflective mirror (M6), a seventh reflective mirror (M7), and an eighth reflective mirror (M8). At least one of the reflective surfaces of these 8 reflective mirrors is composed of a spherical surface.

Abstract: A projection optical system is a catoptric system in which a field of view region and an imaging region are located spaced from an optical axis, in which a numerical aperture of light reaching each point on an image plane is substantially uniform regardless of an image height and a direction. An aperture stop for defining the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is provided, and the aperture stop is provided with an aperture portion in a predetermined shape in which the numerical aperture of light reaching each point within a predetermined region is substantially uniform over the predetermined region, that is, in a shape in which dimensions concerning two directions perpendicular to each other are different from each other.

Abstract: A projection optical system is a catoptric system in which a field of view region and an imaging region are located spaced from an optical axis, in which a numerical aperture of light reaching each point on an image plane is substantially uniform regardless of an image height and a direction. An aperture stop for defining the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is provided, and the aperture stop is provided with an aperture portion in a predetermined shape in which the numerical aperture of light reaching each point within a predetermined region is substantially uniform over the predetermined region, that is, in a shape in which dimensions concerning two directions perpendicular to each other are different from each other.

Abstract: A projection optical system has at least eight reflecting mirrors and is relatively compact in the radial direction. The eight reflecting mirrors (M1˜M8) form a reduced image of a first surface on a second surface. A first reflecting image forming optical system (G1) forms a first intermediate image (IMI1) of the first surface based on light from the first surface, a second reflecting image forming optical system (G2) forms a second intermediate image (IMI2) of the first surface based on light from the first intermediate image, and a third reflecting image forming optical system (G3) forms a reduced image on the second surface based on light from the second intermediate image. The number of reflecting mirrors (M6˜M8) of the third reflecting image forming optical system is greater than the number of reflecting mirrors (M1, M2) of the first reflecting image forming optical system.

Abstract: Projection-optical systems are disclosed that have a large image-side NA of, e.g., ?0.45, and that allow inspection for surface-shape errors of reflecting surfaces with prescribed precision. A first reflective image-forming optical system forms an intermediate image of a first surface. A second reflective image-forming optical system forms a reduced image, on a second surface, of the intermediate image. The first reflective image-forming optical system has a first concave mirror, a second convex mirror, a third mirror, and a fourth concave mirror. The second reflective image-forming optical system has a fifth concave mirror, a sixth mirror, a seventh convex mirror, and an eighth concave mirror. If the absolute value of the center radius of curvature of the reflective surface of the second mirror is RM2, and the maximum object height on the first surface is H0, then the condition 1<RM2/H0<6 is satisfied.

Abstract: A projection optical system comprises eight reflectors and forms a reduced image of a first surface (4) onto a second surface (7). It comprises a first reflective imaging optical system (G1) for forming an intermediate image of the first surface and a second reflective imaging optical system (G2) for forming an image of the intermediate image onto the second surface. The first reflective imaging optical system includes a first reflector (M1), a second reflector (M2), a third reflector (M3), and a fourth reflector (M4) successively as light enters from the first surface side. The second reflective imaging optical system includes a fifth reflector (M5), a sixth reflector (M6), a seventh reflector (M7), and an eighth reflector (M8) successively as light enters from the first surface side. This realizes a reflective projection optical system which can favorably correct aberrations while having a favorable reflection characteristic with respect to X-rays and keeping the reflectors from becoming bulky.

Abstract: An 8-mirror reflecting type projection optical system. A first reflecting image forming optical system forms an intermediate image of a first surface and a second reflecting image forming optical system forms an image of that intermediate image on a second surface. The first reflecting image forming optical system has a first reflecting mirror M1, a second reflecting mirror M2, a third reflecting mirror M3, and a fourth reflecting mirror M4. The second reflecting image forming optical system has a fifth reflecting mirror M5, a sixth reflecting mirror M6, a seventh reflecting mirror M7, and an eighth reflecting mirror M8. The first reflecting mirror M1, the fourth reflecting mirror M4, the fifth reflecting mirror M5, and the eighth reflecting mirror M8 have concave reflecting surfaces, and the seventh reflecting mirror M7 has a convex reflecting surface. One of the second reflecting mirror M2 and the third reflecting mirror M3 has a concave reflecting surface, and the other has a convex reflecting surface.

Abstract: A projection optical system has at least eight reflecting mirrors and is relatively compact in the radial direction. The eight reflecting mirrors (M1˜M8) form a reduced image of a first surface on a second surface. A first reflecting image forming optical system (G1) forms a first intermediate image (IMI1) of the first surface based on light from the first surface, a second reflecting image forming optical system (G2) forms a second intermediate image (IMI2) of the first surface based on light from the first intermediate image, and a third reflecting image forming optical system (G3) forms a reduced image on the second surface based on light from the second intermediate image. The number of reflecting mirrors (M6˜M8) comprising the third reflecting image forming optical system is greater than the number of reflecting mirrors (M1, M2) comprising the first reflecting image forming optical system.

Abstract: A reflective-type projection optical system equipped with 8 reflective mirrors that forms a reduced image of a first surface on a second surface. It is equipped with a first reflective imaging optical system (G1) for forming an intermediate image of the first surface and a second reflective imaging optical system (G2) for forming an image of the intermediate image on the second surface. The first reflective imaging optical system has, from the first surface side in order of light beam incidence, a first reflective mirror (M1), a second reflective mirror (M2), a third reflective mirror (M3), and a fourth reflective mirror (M4). The second reflective imaging optical system has, from the first surface side in order of light beam incidence, a fifth reflective mirror (M5), a sixth reflective mirror (M6), a seventh reflective mirror (M7), and an eighth reflective mirror (M8). At least one of the reflective surfaces of these 8 reflective mirrors is composed of a spherical surface.

Abstract: A catadioptric system includes: a first image forming optical system that includes at least two reflecting mirrors and forms a first intermediate image of a first plane with light originating from the first plane; a second image forming optical system that includes at least two reflecting mirrors and forms a second intermediate image of the first plane with light having traveled via the first image forming optical system; and a refractive type of third image forming optical system that forms a final image of the first plane onto a second plane with light having traveled via the second image forming optical system, and optical members constituting the first image forming optical system, the second image forming optical system and the third image forming optical system are all disposed along a single linear optical axis.

Abstract: A projection optical system is a catoptric system in which a field of view region and an imaging region are located spaced from an optical axis, in which a numerical aperture of light reaching each point on an image plane is substantially uniform regardless of an image height and a direction. An aperture stop for defining the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is provided, and the aperture stop is provided with an aperture portion in a predetermined shape in which the numerical aperture of light reaching each point within a predetermined region is substantially uniform over the predetermined region, that is, in a shape in which dimensions concerning two directions perpendicular to each other are different from each other.

Abstract: An optical imaging system especially for microlithography includes a first imaging system forming an intermediate image of an object, and a second imaging system forming, on a surface, an image of the intermediate image. A reflective surface directs light from the first imaging system to the second imaging system. An aspherical corrective optical surface is located at or near the location of the intermediate image for correcting aberrations such as high-order distortion, aberrations due to accumulation of manufacturing tolerances, and spherical aberration. The first imaging system comprises a positive power refractive element and a concave mirror. The second imaging system comprises refractive elements and no concave mirror.

Abstract: A projection optical system having six reflecting mirrors for projecting a reduced image of a first surface on a second surface comprises a first catoptric imaging optical system to form an intermediate image of the first surface and a second catoptric imaging optical system to form an image of the intermediate image on the second surface. The first catoptric imaging optical system includes a pair of convex reflecting mirrors arranged to be opposed to each other.

Abstract: To use a beam splitting optical system smaller than the conventional beam splitters and to set a longer optical path between a concave, reflective mirror and an image plant. A light beam from an object surface travels through a first converging group to enter a beam splitter, and a light beam reflected by the beam splitter is reflected by a concave, reflective mirror to form an image of patterns on the object surface inside the concave, reflective mirror. A light beam from the image of the patterns passes through the beam splitter and thereafter forms an image of the patterns through a third converging group on an image plane.

Abstract: Catadioptric projection systems are disclosed for projecting an illuminated region of a reticle onto a corresponding region on a substrate. The systems are preferably used with ultraviolet light sources (e.g., 193 nm). The systems comprise a first imaging system, a concave mirror, and a second imaging system. The first imaging system comprises a single-pass lens group and a double-pass lens group. The single-pass lens group comprises a first negative subgroup, a positive subgroup, and a second negative subgroup. Light from the illuminated region of the reticle passes through the single-pass lens group and the double-pass lens group, and reflects from the concave mirror to pass back through the double-pass lens group to form an intermediate image of the illuminated region of the reticle. The light is then directed to the second imaging system that re-images the illuminated region of the reticle on the substrate.