An optical arrangement of an imaging device for microlithography, particularly for using light in the extreme UV range, includes an optical element and a holding device for holding the optical element. The optical element includes an optical surface and defines a plane of main extension, in which the optical element defines a radial direction and a circumferential direction. The holding device includes a base element and more than three separate holding units. The holding units are connected to the base element and arranged in a manner distributed along the circumferential direction and spaced apart from one another. The holding units hold the optical element with respect to the base element. Each of the holding units establishes a clamping connection between the optical element and the base element. The clamping connection for each holding unit is separate from the clamping connections of the other holding units.

A projection display device comprising a light source and an SBG device having a multiplicity of separate SBG elements sandwiched between transparent substrates to which transparent electrodes have been applied. The substrates function as a light guide. A least one transparent electrode comprises a plurality of independently switchable transparent electrode elements, each electrode element substantially overlaying a unique SBG element. Each SBG element encodes image information to be projected on an image surface. Light coupled into the light guide undergoes total internal reflection until diffracted out to the light guide by an activated SBG element. The SBG diffracts light out of the light guide to form an image region on an image surface when subjected to an applied voltage via said transparent electrodes.

A mirror having a mirror substrate (12, 32, 52), a reflection layer stack (21, 41, 61) reflecting electromagnetic radiation having an operating wavelength that is incident on the optical effective surface (11, 31, 51), and at least one piezoelectric layer (16, 36, 56), arranged between the substrate and the reflection layer stack and to which an electric field producing a locally variable deformation is applied. A first electrode arrangement (20, 40, 60) situated on the side of the piezoelectric layer faces the reflection layer stack, and a second electrode arrangement (14, 34, 54) is situated on the side of the piezoelectric layer facing the mirror substrate. Optionally, a bracing layer (98) is provided, which limits sinking of the piezoelectric layer (96) into the mirror substrate (92) when an electric field is applied, in comparison with an analogous construction lacking the bracing layer, thereby increasing the piezoelectric layer's effective deflection.

Provided are an optical device capable of effectively preventing contamination and a method for preventing contamination of the same. An optical device according to an embodiment includes a light source that generates light containing EUV (Extreme UltraViolet) light or VUV (Vacuum UltraViolet) light, a chamber in which an object to be irradiated with the light is placed, an optical element placed inside the chamber to guide the light, an introduction unit that introduces hydrogen or helium into the chamber, a power supply that applies a negative voltage to the optical element in the chamber, an ammeter that measures an ion current flowing through the optical element, and a control unit that adjusts the amount of the hydrogen or the helium introduced according to a measurement result of the ammeter.

Nanostructured photonic materials, and associated components for use in devices and systems operating at ultraviolet (UV), extreme ultraviolet (EUV), and/or soft Xray wavelengths are described. Such a material may be fabricated with nanoscale features tailored for a selected wavelength range, such as at particular UV, EUV, or soft Xray wavelengths or wavelength ranges. Such a material may be used to make components such as mirrors, lenses or other optics, panels, lightsources, masks, photoresists, or other components for use in applications such as lithography, wafer patterning, astronomical and space applications, biomedical applications, biotech or other applications.

An apparatus for receiving input radiation and broadening a frequency range of the input radiation to provide broadband output radiation. The apparatus includes a chamber, a fiber, a gas generating apparatus, and a radical generating apparatus. The fiber includes a hollow core configured to guide radiation propagating through the fiber, the hollow core in fluid communication with the chamber. The gas generating apparatus is configured to provide a gas within the chamber. The radical generating apparatus is configured to provide free radicals within the chamber to reduce contaminants in the gas. The apparatus may be included in a radiation source.

A method for producing an optical element (2), in particular for a projection exposure system (400), according to which a protective layer (11) consisting of a protective material is applied to a surface of a main body (7) until a protective layer thickness is obtained. The main body (7) has a substrate (17) and a reflective layer (18) applied to the substrate (17). The protective layer (11) is at least substantially defect-free.

A multilayer stack in the form of a Bragg reflector comprising a graded interfacial layer and a method of manufacturing are disclosed. The graded interfacial layer eliminates the formation of low-reflectivity interfaces in a multilayer stack and reduces roughness of interfaces in a multilayer stack.

Provided for herein are methods for producing reflective optical elements for the EUV wavelength range which have grating structures or which include structures that can serve as phase shifters. The methods may include the following operations: applying a structurable layer to a substrate, applying a reflective coating to the substrate that has been provided with the structurable layer, and locally irradiating the structurable layer. The structurable layer may be irradiated before or after application of the reflective coating.

An apparatus for receiving input radiation and broadening a frequency range of the input radiation to provide broadband output radiation. The apparatus includes a chamber, a fiber, a gas generating apparatus, and a radical generating apparatus. The fiber includes a hollow core configured to guide radiation propagating through the fiber, the hollow core in fluid communication with the chamber. The gas generating apparatus is configured to provide a gas within the chamber. The radical generating apparatus is configured to provide free radicals within the chamber to reduce contaminants in the gas. The apparatus may be included in a radiation source.