Exposure Apparatus and Device Manufacturing Method

• US 20080106718A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Takaya, Sugawara, Ryu
• Application Number:
  US11/791,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 355/67
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70341 Details of immersion lithography aspects, e.g. exposure media or control of immersion liquid supply chemical composition of immersion liquids G03F7/2041

Abstract

An exposure apparatus emits exposure light onto a substrate (P) via a projection optical system (PL) to expose the substrate (P). The projection optical system (PL) includes a first optical element (LS1) closest to an image plane of the projection optical system (PL) and a second optical element (LS2) closest to the image plane next to the first optical element (LS1). The exposure apparatus is disposed alia position higher than a lower surface (T3) of the second optical element (LS2) and includes a second collection port (42) that recovers a second liquid (LQ2) held in a second space (K2) between an upper surface (T2) of the first optical element (LS1) and the lower surface (T3) of the second optical element (LS2).

Claims

1. An exposure apparatus for emitting exposure light onto a substrate via a projection optical system to expose the substrate, wherein

the projection optical system comprises a first optical element that is closest to an image plane of the projection optical system and a second optical element that is closest to the image plane next to the first optical element, and

the exposure apparatus comprises a collection port that is provided at a position higher than a lower surface of the second optical element and that recovers a liquid held in a space between an upper surface of the first optical element and the lower surface of the second optical element.

2. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a nozzle member provided so as to enclose a side surface of the second optical element, wherein

the collection port is provided at a position facing the side surface of the nozzle member.

3. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 2, further comprising a supply outlet that supplies a liquid to the space, wherein

the supply outlet is provided at the nozzle member.

4. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the nozzle member comprises a holding portion that holds the first optical element by vacuum attraction.

5. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the nozzle member comprises a lower surface facing a region on the upper surface of the first optical element, the region being different from a region through which the exposure light passes, and the holding portion is provided on the lower surface of the nozzle member.

6. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a control mechanism that controls circulation of a liquid between the space and a space outside the space.

7. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the second optical element comprises a first surface facing an upper surface of a nozzle member, and a sealing member is provided between the upper surface of the nozzle member and the first surface.

8. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein a recess portion that holds a liquid leaking from the space is provided on the upper surface of the nozzle member and outside the sealing member.

9. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a detector that detects whether a liquid has leaked from the space.

10. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the detector is provided on the upper surface of the nozzle member.

11. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the detector comprises an optical fiber.

12. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a supporting member that supports the first optical element, wherein

a hole that discharges a liquid in the space is formed in the supporting member.

13. The exposure apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the supporting member has a second surface that is lower than the upper surface of the first optical element, and the hole is provided on the second surface.

14. The exposure apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a gas supply system that supplies a gas to the space when a liquid is discharged from the hole.

36. A device manufacturing method, wherein the exposure apparatus according to Claim 1 is used.

15. An exposure apparatus for emitting exposure light onto a substrate via a projection optical system to expose the substrate, wherein

the projection optical system comprises a first optical element that is closest to an image plane of the projection optical system and a second optical element that is closest to the image plane next to the first optical element,

the exposure apparatus comprises a nozzle member that is disposed in an annular shape so as to enclose the second optical element and that has at least one of a liquid supply outlet and a liquid collection port that forms an immersion region of liquid between the first optical element and the second optical element, and

the nozzle member comprises a holding portion that holds the first optical element by vacuum attraction.

16. An exposure apparatus for emitting exposure light onto a substrate via a projection optical system to expose the substrate, wherein

the projection optical system comprises a first optical element that is closest to an image plane of the projection optical system and a second optical element that is closest to the image plane next to the first optical element, and

the exposure apparatus comprises an immersion mechanism that forms an immersion region of a liquid in a space between the first optical element and the second optical element;

and

a detector that detects whether the liquid has leaked from the space.

17. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the detector comprises an optical fiber.

18. An exposure apparatus for emitting exposure light onto a substrate via a projection optical system to expose the substrate, comprising:

an immersion mechanism that forms an immersion region of a liquid on an upper surface of a predetermined optical element from among a plurality of optical elements constituting the projection optical system,

a supporting member that holds the predetermined optical element; and

a discharge outlet that is provided at the support member and that discharges the liquid from the immersion region.

19. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the supporting member holds an optical element disposed at a position closest to an image plane of the projection optical system.

20. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the discharge

outlet is provided at a position lower than the upper surface of the predetermined optical element.

21. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 18, further comprising a gas supply system that supplies a gas to the upper surface of the predetermined optical element when a liquid is discharged from the discharge outlet.

22. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein

the immersion mechanism comprises at least one of a supply outlet that supplies a liquid to the upper surface of the predetermined optical element and a collection port that recovers the liquid, and

the gas supply system supplies a gas from at least one of the supply outlet and the collection port.

23. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein the gas supply system comprises a gas port provided at the supporting member.

24. An exposure apparatus for emitting exposure light onto a substrate via a first optical element to expose the substrate, comprising:

a supply outlet that supplies a liquid to an upper surface side of the first optical element such that a predetermined region on the upper surface of the first optical element forms an immersion region, the exposure light passing through the predetermined region; and

a frame member that has a support portion that supports an outer circumferential portion of the first optical element and encloses the first optical element, wherein

the liquid supplied to the upper surface side of the first optical element is discharged from between the first optical element and the frame member.

25. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the liquid is discharged via a discharge outlet formed between the first optical element and the frame member.

26. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the discharge outlet has a cut portion provided at least one of an outer marginal portion of the first optical element and an inner marginal portion of the frame member.

27. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the supply outlet is provided outside the predetermined region.

28. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the discharge outlet is provided at a position away from the supply outlet with respect to the predetermined region.

29. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 25, further comprising a collection member that collects a liquid discharged from the discharge outlet.

30. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 29, further comprising a suction apparatus that suction-recovers the liquid collected by the collection member.

31. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 24, further comprising a collection port that is provided at a position higher than the predetermined region and that recovers the liquid.

32. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 31, wherein the collection port is provided adjacent to the discharge outlet.

33. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 31, wherein the collection port is provided on the opposite side of the predetermined region from the supply outlet.

34. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 24, further comprising a second optical element having a lower surface facing the upper surface of the first optical element, wherein

the liquid is held between the upper surface of the first optical element and the lower surface of the second optical element.

35. The exposure apparatus according to Claim 34, further comprising a projection optical system through which the exposure light passes, wherein

the first optical element is provided at a position closest to an image plane of the projection optical system, and

the second optical element is provided at a position closest to the image plane next to the first optical element.