A drive device for driving an actuator of an optical system comprises: a switching amplifier for generating an amplified signal depending on a modulation signal; a filter unit connected between the actuator and the switching amplifier and having at least one inductance; a providing unit for providing a supply voltage; and a two-quadrant controller having feedback capability coupled between the providing unit and the switching amplifier.

An object holder configured to support an object, the object holder comprising: a core body comprising a plurality of burls having distal ends in a support plane for supporting the object; an electrostatic sheet between the burls, the electrostatic sheet comprising an electrode sandwiched between dielectric layers; and a circumferential barrier for reducing outflow of gas escaping from space between the object and the core body.

An optical assembly of a microlithography imaging device comprises a holding device for holding an optical element. The holding device has a holding element having first and second interface sections. The first interface section for a first interface connecting the holding element and the optical element in an installed state. The second interface section forms a second interface connecting the holding element and a support unit in the installed state. The support unit connects the optical element to a support structure to support the optical element on the support structure via a supporting force. The holding device comprises an actuator device engaging on the holding element between the first and second interfaces. The actuator device acts on the holding element via a controller so that a specifiable interface deformation and/or a specifiable interface force distribution acting on the optical element is set on the first interface.

A negative photosensitive resin composition containing an epoxy group-containing resin and a cationic polymerization initiator which includes a sulfonium salt represented by General Formula (I0). In Formula (I0), R1 and R2 represent an aryl group, a heterocyclic hydrocarbon group, or an alkyl group. R3 to R5 are an alkyl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an alkylcarbonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, an arylthio group, an alkylthio group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic hydrocarbon group, an aryloxy group, a hydroxy(poly)alkyleneoxy group, or a halogen atom. k is an integer of 0 to 4, m is an integer of 0 to 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4. A is a group represented by —S—, —O—, —SO—, —SO.sub.2—, or —CO—. X.sup.− represents a monovalent polyatomic anion

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A component of an optical system comprises an optical element and a first channel system outside the optical element and through which a cooling fluid can flow, such that, during operation of the optical system, heat generated by electromagnetic radiation incident on the optical element is absorbed and drawn off via the cooling fluid in the first channel system. The component also includes a second channel system through which a cooling fluid can flow to at least partially thermally shield a region of the component from the heat absorbed by the cooling fluid in the first channel system. The second channel system is outside the first channel system in the radial direction relative to the center of the optical element.

A method for operating a magnetic actuator comprises: ascertaining a mathematical model of the actuator which describes a change in a motor constant of the actuator as a function of the electrical drive power supplied; driving the actuator with a first electrical drive power as a function of a predetermined target force; ascertaining the change in the motor constant of the actuator on account of driving the actuator with the first electrical drive power via the mathematical model; ascertaining a correction value for the first electrical drive power as a function of the ascertained change in the motor constant; and driving the actuator with a second electrical drive power as a function of the first electrical drive power and the ascertained correction value.

An arrangement of a microlithographic optical imaging device includes first and supporting structures. The first supporting structure supports an optical element of the imaging device. The first supporting structure supports the second supporting structure via supporting spring devices of a vibration decoupling device. The supporting spring devices act kinematically parallel to one another between the first and second supporting structures. Each supporting spring device defines a supporting force direction and a supporting length along the supporting force direction. The second supporting structure supports a measuring device configured to measure the position and/or orientation of the optical element in relation to a reference in at least one degree of freedom and up to all six degrees of freedom in space. A creep compensation device compensates a change in a static relative situation between the first and second supporting structures in at least one correction degree of freedom.

An optical system for lithography apparatus comprises a movable element and a functional element having a first and second portions. The optical element is designed as an optical element or as a reference structure. The first portion is fastened to the movable element by a joining mechanism along a fastening plane. The second portion comprises a functional surface. The functional element comprises a decoupling device for decoupling by deformation the first portion from the second portion. The decoupling device is formed by a narrowing of the functional element. The narrowing is located laterally outside a region of the functional surface. The functional surface is a measurement surface which is suitable for acquisition for the purposes of positioning and/or orientating the movable element.

Embodiment discloses a photomask and a photomask fixing device. The photomask includes a photomask body. The photomask body includes a first side surface and a second side surface arranged in parallel, and a pattern surface connecting the first side surface and the second side surface. The first side surface and the second side surface are respectively provided with a plurality of fixing holes configured for fitting with a fixing portion to fix the photomask body. In the above photomask, two parallel side surfaces positioned on the pattern surface are used as fixing surface of the photomask, i.e., the first side surface and the second side surface. The first side surface and the second side surface are respectively provided with a plurality of fixing holes configured for fitting with the fixing portion configured to fix the photomask, to strengthen fixation of the photomask.

An imprint lithography apparatus having a first frame to be mounted on a floor, a second frame mounted on the first frame via a kinematic coupling, an alignment sensor mounted on the second frame, to align an imprint lithography template arrangement with a target portion of a substrate, and a position sensor to measure a position of the imprint lithography template arrangement and/or a substrate stage relative to the second frame.