Abstract: A method for unloading a substrate from a support table configured to support the substrate, the method including: supplying gas to a gap between a base surface of the support table and the substrate via a plurality of gas flow openings in the support table, wherein during an initial phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in an outer region of the support table and not through any gas flow opening in a central region of the support table radially inward of the outer region, and during a subsequent phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in the outer region and at least one gas flow opening in the central region.

Abstract: A method for unloading a substrate from a support table configured to support the substrate, the method including: supplying gas to a gap between a base surface of the support table and the substrate via a plurality of gas flow openings in the support table, wherein during an initial phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in an outer region of the support table and not through any gas flow opening in a central region of the support table radially inward of the outer region, and during a subsequent phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in the outer region and at least one gas flow opening in the central region.

Abstract: A substrate holder for use in a lithographic apparatus and configured to support a substrate, the substrate holder including a main body having a main body surface; a plurality of burls projecting from the main body surface to support the substrate spaced apart from the main body surface; and a liquid control structure provided in a peripheral region of the main body surface and configured to cause liquid to preferentially flow toward the periphery of the main body surface.

Abstract: An extraction body for a support apparatus of a lithographic apparatus. The support apparatus is configured to support an object. The extraction body is formed with an opening at a surface thereof. The opening extends within the extraction body forming a first passageway. The first passageway is configured to fluidly communicate an extraction channel in the extraction body to liquid between the surface and the object. A first pressure in the extraction channel is less than ambient pressure. At least a part of the first passageway is sized and dimensioned such that when the liquid enters the first passageway via the opening, a second pressure in the first passageway associated with surface tension of the liquid is lower than the first pressure such that at least a portion of the liquid is retained in the first passageway.

Abstract: A substrate holder for use in a lithographic apparatus and configured to support a substrate, the substrate holder including a main body having a main body surface; a plurality of burls projecting from the main body surface to support the substrate spaced apart from the main body surface; and a liquid control structure provided in a peripheral region of the main body surface and configured to cause liquid to preferentially flow toward the periphery of the main body surface.

Abstract: A treatment tool for reconditioning the top surfaces of a plurality of projections of a substrate support in a lithographic tool. The treatment tool includes a reconditioning surface which is rough relative to smoothed top surfaces of the projections and which reconditioning surface has material harder than that of the material of the top surfaces of the projections. A reconditioning method involves causing an interaction between the reconditioning surface of the treatment tool and the top surfaces of the projections of the substrate support, so as to leave these top surfaces rougher than they were prior to the interaction.

Abstract: A substrate holder for use in a lithographic apparatus and configured to support a substrate, the substrate holder including a main body having a main body surface; a plurality of burls projecting from the main body surface to support the substrate spaced apart from the main body surface; and a liquid control structure provided in a peripheral region of the main body surface and configured to cause liquid to preferentially flow toward the periphery of the main body surface.

Abstract: An extraction body for a support apparatus of a lithographic apparatus. The support apparatus is configured to support an object. The extraction body is formed with an opening at a surface thereof. The opening extends within the extraction body forming a first passageway. The first passageway is configured to fluidly communicate an extraction channel in the extraction body to liquid between the surface and the object. A first pressure in the extraction channel is less than ambient pressure. At least a part of the first passageway is sized and dimensioned such that when the liquid enters the first passageway via the opening, a second pressure in the first passageway associated with surface tension of the liquid is lower than the first pressure such that at least a portion of the liquid is retained in the first passageway.

Abstract: An extraction body for a support apparatus of a lithographic apparatus. The support apparatus is configured to support an object. The extraction body is formed with an opening at a surface thereof. The opening extends within the extraction body forming a first passageway. The first passageway is configured to fluidly communicate an extraction channel in the extraction body to liquid between the surface and the object. A first pressure in the extraction channel is less than ambient pressure. At least a part of the first passageway is sized and dimensioned such that when the liquid enters the first passageway via the opening, a second pressure in the first passageway associated with surface tension of the liquid is lower than the first pressure such that at least a portion of the liquid is retained in the first passageway.

Abstract: A substrate holder for use in a lithographic apparatus and configured to support a substrate, the substrate holder including a main body having a main body surface; a plurality of burls projecting from the main body surface to support the substrate spaced apart from the main body surface; and a liquid control structure provided in a peripheral region of the main body surface and configured to cause liquid to preferentially flow toward the periphery of the main body surface.

Abstract: A substrate table configured to support a substrate for exposure in an immersion lithographic apparatus, the substrate table including: a support body having a support surface configured to support the substrate; and a cover ring fixed relative to the support body and configured to surround, in plan view, the substrate supported on the support surface, wherein the cover ring has an upper surface and at least a portion of the upper surface is configured so as to alter the stability of a meniscus of immersion liquid when moving along the upper surface towards the substrate.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: A substrate table configured to support a substrate for exposure in an immersion lithographic apparatus, the substrate table including: a support body having a support surface configured to support the substrate; and a cover ring fixed relative to the support body and configured to surround, in plan view, the substrate supported on the support surface, wherein the cover ring has an upper surface and at least a portion of the upper surface is configured so as to alter the stability of a meniscus of immersion liquid when moving along the upper surface towards the substrate.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: A substrate table configured to support a substrate for exposure in an immersion lithographic apparatus, the substrate table including: a support body having a support surface configured to support the substrate; and a cover ring fixed relative to the support body and configured to surround, in plan view, the substrate supported on the support surface, wherein the cover ring has an upper surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is configured so as to alter the stability of a meniscus of immersion liquid when moving along the upper surface towards the substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate, a vacuum chamber through which the patterned beam of radiation is projected during use, and a purge system configured to provide a purge gas flow in the chamber.

Abstract: An extraction body for a support apparatus of a lithographic apparatus. The support apparatus is configured to support an object. The extraction body is formed with an opening at a surface thereof. The opening extends within the extraction body forming a first passageway. The first passageway is configured to fluidly communicate an extraction channel in the extraction body to liquid between the surface and the object. A first pressure in the extraction channel is less than ambient pressure. At least a part of the first passageway is sized and dimensioned such that when the liquid enters the first passageway via the opening, a second pressure in the first passageway associated with surface tension of the liquid is lower than the first pressure such that at least a portion of the liquid is retained in the first passageway.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: A method for unloading a substrate from a support table configured to support the substrate, the method including: supplying gas to a gap between a base surface of the support table and the substrate via a plurality of gas flow openings in the support table, wherein during an initial phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in an outer region of the support table and not through any gas flow opening in a central region of the support table radially inward of the outer region, and during a subsequent phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in the outer region and at least one gas flow opening in the central region.

Abstract: A substrate table configured to support a substrate for exposure in an immersion lithographic apparatus, the substrate table including: a support body having a support surface configured to support the substrate; and a cover ring fixed relative to the support body and configured to surround, in plan view, the substrate supported on the support surface, wherein the cover ring has an upper surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is configured so as to alter the stability of a meniscus of immersion liquid when moving along the upper surface towards the substrate.