Patent ID: 7046337
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. An exposure method that transfers a pattern formed on a mask onto an object to be exposed via a projection optical system that is at least partially immersed in liquid and has a numerical aperture of n o sin θ NA , where n o is a refractive index of the liquid and θ NA is the largest value of the incident angle θ, said exposure method illuminating exposure light so that where an X-axis is one direction of the pattern formed on the mask and a direction orthogonal to the X-axis, a Y-axis is the other, and θ is an incident angle of the exposure light upon the projection optical system, an area of an effective light source formed on a pupil of the projection optical system corresponds to the incident angle θ that satisfies 90°−θ NA ≦θ≦θ NA and has a linearly polarized component in a direction orthogonal to the X-axis or Y-axis.