Patent ID: 7352443
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A lithographic apparatus comprising: an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a support configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device being configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section; a substrate table configured to hold a substrate; and a projection system having a diaphragm and configured to project the radiation beam, after it has been patterned, onto a target portion of the substrate; wherein, in use, the radiation beam illuminating the patterning device is substantially radially polarized and wherein the diaphragm is configured to block a radially polarized diffracted portion of the patterned radiation, the blocked radially polarized diffracted portion of the patterned radiation comprising at least about 5% of a first order diffraction pattern.