Catadioptric system and exposure apparatus having the same

• US 5,668,672 A
• Filed: 12/12/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Oomura, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORNELY, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/570,922
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630-633, 359/727, 359/729, 359/732, 359/733-736
• US Class Current: 359/727
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0892 specially adapted for the UV
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70225 Optical aspects of catadioptric systems, i.e. comprising reflective and refractive elements

Abstract

This invention relates to a catadioptric optical system in which, a large numerical aperture is attained on the image side and, while securing a sufficient working distance, the size of the beam splitter is reduced, thereby attaining a resolution of a quarter micron unit, and an exposure apparatus using the same. In order to form a reduced image of a pattern of a first surface on a second surface, this catadioptric optical system comprises, at least, a first lens group, a beam splitter, a concave mirror having an enlarging magnification, and a second lens group. These constitutional elements of the catadioptric optical system are disposed such that light from the first surface passes through the first lens group, the beam splitter, the concave mirror, the beam splitter, and the second lens group in this order. In particular, the rear-side principal plane of the second lens group is on the second surface side with respect to a light-entering surface of the second lens group on which the light having passed through the beam splitter is incident. In addition, the concave mirror functions to collimate the light having passed through the beam splitter and then make thus collimated light re-enter the beam splitter.

Claims

1. A catadioptric optical system for forming a reduced image of a pattern of a first surface on a second surface, said catadioptric optical system comprising a first lens group, a beam splitter, a concave mirror having an enlarging magnification, and a second lens group;

wherein light from said first surface passes through said first lens group and said beam splitter, in this order, so as to be directed to said concave mirror, whereas light reflected by said concave mirror passes through said beam splitter and said second lens group, in this order, so as to be directed to said second surface;

wherein a rear-side principal point position of said second lens group is on said second surface side with respect to a light-entering surface of said second lens group on which the light having passed through said beam splitter is incident; and

wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following conditions;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1<

1/β

.sub.M <

0.5

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.85<

L.sub.1 /f.sub.2

wherein β

_M is imaging magnification of said concave mirror, L₁ is distance between said rear-side principal point position and the light-entering surface of said second lens group, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1<

β

.sub.2 β

<

1

wherein β

₂ is imaging magnification of said second lens group and β

is imaging magnification of said catadioptric optical system as a whole.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said beam splitter is a prism type beam splitter.

4. A system according to claim 3, further comprising an aperture stop disposed in an optical path between said beam splitter and said second surface,

wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.26<

D.sub.1 /f.sub.M <

1.00

wherein D₁ is air-converted distance between said concave mirror and said aperture stop and f_M is focal length of said concave mirror.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">D.sub.2 ·

NA/f.sub.2 >

0.70

wherein D₂ is air-converted distance between an output surface of said beam splitter, which faces said second lens group and from which light whose traveling direction has been changed by a direction change surface within said beam splitter is output, and said second surface;

NA is numerical aperture of said catadioptric optical system on said second surface side; and

f₂ is focal length of said second lens group G₂.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(Φ

.sub.B.sup.1/2 -4d.sub.W ·

NA)/{f.sub.2 ·

(NA).sup.2 }<

4

wherein Φ

_B is area of orthogonal projection of the direction change surface of said beam splitter on the output surface on said second lens group side, d_W is working distance of said catadioptric optical system on said second surface side, NA is numerical aperture of said catadioptric optical system on said second surface side, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein each of refractive elements constituting said first lens group is comprised of one of at least two different kinds of optical materials and each of refractive elements constituting said second lens group is composed of one of at least two different kinds of optical materials, said first lens group having at least a negative lens component of fluorite while said second lens group having at least a positive lens component of fluorite.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein each refractive element of said first lens group is comprised of one of at least two different kinds of optical materials and each refractive element of said second lens group is comprised of one of at least two different kinds of optical materials, said first lens group having at least a negative lens component of fluorite while said second lens group having at least a positive lens component of fluorite.

9. A system according to claim 4, wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(Φ

.sub.B.sup.1/2 -4d.sub.W ·

NA)/{f.sub.2 ·

(NA).sup.2 }<

4

wherein Φ

_B is area of orthogonal projection of the direction change surface of said beam splitter on the output surface on said second lens group side, d_W is working distance of said catadioptric optical system on said second surface side, NA is numerical aperture of said catadioptric optical system on said second surface side, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.

10. A catadioptric optical system for forming a reduced image of a pattern of a first surface on a second surface, said catadioptric optical system comprising a first lens group, a prism type beam splitter, a concave mirror having an enlarging magnification, and a second lens group;

wherein light from said first surface passes through said first lens group and said beam splitter, in this order, so as to be directed to said concave mirror, whereas light reflected by said concave mirror passes through said beam splitter and said second lens group, in this order, so as to be directed to said second surface; and

wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following conditions;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1<

1/β

M<

0.5

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.85<

L.sub.1 /f.sub.2

wherein β

_M is imaging magnification of said concave mirror, L₁ is distance between said rear-side principal point position and the light-entering surface of said Second lens group, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein a rear-side principal point position of said second lens group is on said second surface side with respect to a light-entering surface of said second lens group on which the light having passed through said beam splitter is incident.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein each refractive element of said first lens group is comprised of one of at least two different kinds of optical materials and each refractive element of said second lens group is comprised of one of at least two different kinds of optical materials, said first lens group having at least a negative lens component of fluorite while said second lens group having at least a positive lens component of fluorite.

23. A method for fabricating at least semiconductor devices or liquid crystal display devices by using a projection optical system according to claim 10, comprising the steps of:

illuminating a mask prepared as said first object with light of a predetermined wavelength, said mask being formed a predetermined pattern thereon; and

projecting an image of the pattern on said mask onto a photosensitive substrate prepared as said second object through said projection optical system, thereby performing an exposure process.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein, in said catadioptric optical system, a rear-side principal plane of said second lens group is on said first stage side with respect to a light-entering surface of said second lens group on which the light having passed through said beam splitter is incident.

13. A catadioptric optical system for forming a reduced image of a pattern of a first surface on a second surface, said catadioptric optical system comprising:

a beam splitter having a direction change surface for changing a traveling direction of light input from a predetermined direction;

a first lens group which is disposed in an optical path between said first surface and said beam splitter so as to guide light from said first surface to said beam splitter;

a second lens group which is disposed in an optical path between said beam splitter and said second surface so as to guide light from said beam splitter to said second surface; and

a collimator for collimating light which has passed through said first lens group and whose traveling direction is to be changed by the direction change surface of said beam splitter and guiding thus collimated light to said beam splitter from said predetermined direction,

wherein said collimator includes a concave mirror having an enlarging magnification.

14. A system according to claim 13, where in a rear-side principal plane of said second lens group is on said second surface side with respect to a light-entering surface of said second lens group on which the light having passed through said beam splitter is incident.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following conditions:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1<

1/β

.sub.M <

0.5

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.85<

L.sub.1 /f.sub.2

wherein β

_M is imaging magnification of said concave mirror, L₁ is distance between said rear-side principal plane and the light-entering surface of said second lens group, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein said beam splitter is a prism type beam splitter.

17. An exposure apparatus comprising:

a first stage allowing a photosensitive substrate to be held on a main surface thereof;

a second stage for holding a mask having a predetermined pattern;

an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask with exposure light having a predetermined wavelength so as to transfer an image of the pattern of said mask to said substrate; and

a catadioptric optical system provided between said first stage and said second stage so as to project a reduced image of the pattern on said mask upon said substrate, said catadioptric optical system comprising;

a beam splitter having a direction change surface for changing a traveling direction of light input from a predetermined direction;

a first lens group which is disposed in an optical path between said mask and said beam splitter so as to guide light from said mask to said beam splitter;

a second lens group which is disposed in an optical path between said beam splitter and said substrate so as to guide light from said beam splitter to said substrate; and

a collimator for collimating light which has passed through said first lens group and whose traveling direction is to be changed by the direction change surface of said beam splitter and guiding thus collimated light to said beam splitter from said predetermined direction,

wherein said collimator of said catadioptric optical system includes a concave mirror having an enlarging magnification.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, in said catadioptric optical system, a rear-side principal plane of said second lens group is on said first stage side with respect to a light-entering surface of said second lens group on which the light having passed through said beam splitter is incident.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following conditions:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1<

1/β

.sub.M <

0.5

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.85<

L.sub.1 /f.sub.2

wherein β

_M is imaging magnification of said concave mirror, L₁ is distance between said rear-side principal plane and the light-entering surface of said second lens group, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said beam splitter of said catadioptric optical system is a prism type beam splitter.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, in said catadioptric optical system, a rear-side principal plane of said second lens group is on said first stage side with respect to a light-entering surface of said second lens group on which the light having passed through said beam splitter is incident.

21. An exposure apparatus comprising:

a first stage allowing a photosensitive substrate to be held on a main surface thereof;

a second stage for holding a mask having a predetermined pattern;

an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask with exposure light having a predetermined wavelength so as to transfer an image of the pattern of said mask to said substrate; and

a catadioptric optical system provided between said first stage and said second stage so as to project a reduced image of the pattern on said mask upon said substrate, said catadioptric optical system comprising;

a beam splitter having a direction change surface for changing a traveling direction of light input from a predetermined direction;

a first lens group which is disposed in an optical path between said mask and said beam splitter so as to guide light from said first surface to said beam splitter;

a second lens group which is disposed in an optical path between said beam splitter and said substrate so as to guide light from said beam splitter to said substrate; and

a concave mirror for reflecting light which has passed through said first lens group and whose traveling direction is to be changed by the direction change surface of said beam splitter and guiding thus reflected light to said beam splitter from said predetermined direction,

wherein said catadioptric optical system satisfies the following conditions;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-<

1/β

.sub.M <

0.5

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.85<

L.sub.1 /f.sub.2

wherein β

_M is imaging magnification of said concave mirror, L₁ is distance between said rear-side principal plane and the light-entering surface of said second lens group, and f₂ is focal length of said second lens group.