Abstract:
On a sample stand having a chip levelling mechanism for amending the exposure plane of a wafer in relation to the image plane of a projection lens, a dynamic damper is provided for assigning to a holder table the appropriate rigidity in the moving direction of the holder table.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an appropriate table support apparatus for a wafer stage with a projection exposure apparatus or an EB (electron beam) exposure apparatus for production of semiconductor elements. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the projection exposure apparatus or the EB (electron beam) exposure apparatus for production of semiconductor elements, a wafer is automatically transferred to a sample stand and fixed to a wafer holder. It is apparently flat, but is actually subject to a slight warp or distortion from processes such as a high-temperature process, etc. At some points, an exposure plane is not vertical to the optical axis of a projection lens. Therefore, a sample stand is equipped with a chip levelling mechanism for amending the tilt of the exposure plane of the wafer in relation to an image plane of the projection lens. 
     FIG. 1 shows an example of a sample table equipped with a chip levelling mechanism. A sample table  1  includes a base  2  fixed to an XY stage; a plurality of vertically flexible and, for example, piezoelectric drives device  3  mounted on the base  2 ; a holder table  4  supported by each drive device  3 ; a wafer holder  5 , provided on the holder table  4 , for holding a wafer W by adsorption; a leaf spring  6 , horizontally mounted between the base  2  and the holder table  4 , for locking the holder table  4  in a horizontal state; a moving mirror  7 ; a laser interferometer  8 ; and a sensor  9 . With the above described configuration, the exposure plane of the wafer W is amended in relation to the image plane of the projection lens by moving the holder table  4  up and down or tilting the holder table  4  in an optional direction by appropriately adjusting the amount of drive of each drive device  3 . 
     The sample table  1  further includes a damper mechanism  10  for damping the vibration generated at the holder table  4  when the level of the exposure plane is adjusted. The damper mechanism  10  is provided between the base  2  and the holder table  4 , and damps the vibration of the holder table  4  based on the viscosity of a viscoelastic substance. Furthermore, the position of the holder table  4  in the X and Y directions is measured by the laser interferometer  8 . 
     Recently, a larger wafer is designed, and a sample stand is designed in a way that a holder table can be responsive and better in movement when the level of the exposure plane is adjusted. However, in the sample stand having the above described damper mechanism, the holder table is strongly held in the opposite direction of its movement with the resistance of a viscoelastic substance when a level adjustment is made, thereby having the holder table deformed. Since the resistance to the holder comes from the viscosity of the viscoelastic substance, the holder table can recover from the deformation with time. However, the exposure plane cannot be correctly aligned until the holder table can be free of deformation. This is a problem in improving the responsiveness of the holder table. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been developed to solve the above described problem, and aims at improving the responsiveness of the holder table when the level of the exposure plane is adjusted by absorbing the vibration of the holder table without deformation of the holder table when the level is adjusted, and by solving the problem of the delay due to the deformation of the holder table in aligning the exposure plane. 
     The table support apparatus according to the present invention includes a table and a dynamic damper. 
     According to the first aspect of the present invention, the table is movable in at least one optional direction. The dynamic damper is provided on the table. 
     The exposure apparatus according to the present invention includes a table and a dynamic damper. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, the table is movable at least in one optional direction to align the exposure plane of a sample to be exposed on the table in relation to the image plane of a projection lens. The dynamic damper is provided on the table to damp the vibration generated on the table. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other purposes and features of the present invention are readily comprehensible to one skilled in the art from the attached drawings and the explanation of the preferred embodiments. 
     FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a conventional sample stand; 
     FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the table support apparatus according to the present invention, and is an oblique view showing a wafer stage with a projection exposure apparatus or an EB exposure apparatus for production of semiconductor elements with the table support apparatus according to the present invention used as a sample stand. 
     FIG. 3 is an oblique exploded view showing the sample stand  25 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the sample stand  25 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the section of the sample table along the line IV through IV shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 shows the type of vibration mode generated on a holder table  37 ; 
     FIG. 7 is an oblique view showing a dynamic damper  50 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the dynamic damper  50 ; 
     FIG. 9 shows a type of vibration mode generated on the holder table  37  other than the type shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 shows another type of vibration mode generated on the holder table  37  other than the type shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11 shows a further type of vibration mode generated on the holder table  37  other than the type shown if FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 12 shows the state of the operation of the dynamic damper  50 ; 
     FIG. 13 is a side view showing a variation of the dynamic damper  50 ; 
     FIG. 14 is a side view showing another variation of the dynamic damper  50 ; and 
     FIG. 15 is a side view showing a further variation of the dynamic damper  50 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     To solve the above described problem with the prior art technology, a dynamic damper is provided in the holder table according to the present invention. A dynamic damper has the function of vibrating itself according to the vibration generated by a structure to absorb it by attaching the dynamic damper to the structure to be vibration-damped without any coupling unit. If this dynamic damper is used as a mechanism for damping the vibration of the holder table set as movable in at least one optional direction, then the vibration of the holder table can be controlled without a deformation of the holder table because the base is not coupled with the holder table. 
     The dynamic damper is assigned an appropriate rigidity for damping the vibration at least in the moving direction of the holder table. When the mode of the vibration of the holder table is analyzed at the level adjustment, each unit of the holder table waveringly vibrates in the moving direction, and the frequency of the holder table is determined. Therefore, the natural frequency of the dynamic damper in the vibration direction of the holder table is set to match the frequency of the holder table so that the vibration energy of the holder table enters the state in which the vibration energy is absorbed by the dynamic damper, thereby suppressing the vibration of the holder table. 
     The dynamic damper is designed to include a base attached to the holder table; an elastic substance which has appropriate rigidity in the moving direction of the holder table and is attached to the base on both sides in the moving direction of the holder table; and a mass body designed as a unit mounted to the base on both sides in the holder table in the moving direction, connected to each other, with each elastic substance provided between the base and the mass body. When the holder table starts vibrating, a vibration system comprising the elastic substance and the mass body is excited to generate a vibration suppressive effect, thereby suppressing the vibration of the holder table. 
     In the dynamic damper, the shape and the material of the elastic substance can be appropriately selected so that the rigidity can be set low for the vibration provided for the holder table by the operation of, for example, an XY stage in the horizontal direction, or the rotation-vibration around the vertical axis, and so that the vibration suppressive effect does not work against the above described vibration. As a result, the entire vibration control can be easily performed when the holder table is actually operated. For the holder table, the vibration mode is analyzed in six optional directions, that is, two horizontal axis directions (X direction and Y direction), a vertical direction (Z direction), and axis rotation directions (ωx direction, ωy direction, ωz direction). The vibration should be controlled for each optional direction. If a dynamic damper has a vibration suppressive effect only in a specific optional direction as described above, and has no vibration suppressive effect in the other optional directions, then the dynamic damper provided to control the vibration in an optional direction has no influence on the control of the vibration in the other optional directions, thereby easily controlling the vibration in each optional direction. 
     It is desired that the dynamic damper is fixed to the antinode of a vibration generated on the holder table. At the level adjustment, it is certain that the holder table vibrates waveringly up and down. Therefore, the vibration of the holder table can be effectively suppressed by fixing the dynamic damper to a point vibrating up and down as an antinode of the vibration. 
     An embodiment of the table support apparatus according to the present invention is described. The present embodiment is realized by applying the table support apparatus to a wafer stage with a scanning type projection exposure apparatus for production of semiconductor elements and exposing a pattern to a wafer while synchronously moving a reticle (mask) having the pattern and the wafer which is an optically sensitive base plate as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,304 or an EB exposure apparatus as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,837. U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,304 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,837 are incorporated into the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular fixed board  13  is supported through antivibration stands  12 A through  12 D (an antivibration stand  12 D is not shown in FIG. 2) at four points on a planar base  11 . Each of the antivibration stands  12 A through  12 D comprises an elastic air spring (or a coil spring) and an oil damper as a vibration damper. The antivibration stands  12 A through  12 D prevent the vibration through the floor from being transmitted to the fixed board  13 . Additionally, the resonant frequency of the entire mechanism of the fixed board  13  and the projection exposure apparatus or the EB exposure apparatus is adjusted to around a few Hz. The top surface of the fixed board  13  is a plane with high flatness and is held parallel to the level when the apparatus is in an OFF state. In the following explanation, the X and Y axes extend in parallel with the top surface of the fixed board  13 , and the Z axis is vertical to the top surface of the fixed board  13 . 
     In this case, an X guide bar  14 , which is provided with a guide for the X stage, is fixed to the top surface of the fixed board  13  along the X direction. A first Y guide bar carrier  15  is provided as movable in the X direction along the side of the X guide bar  14  and the top surface of the fixed board  13 . A second Y guide bar carrier  16  is provided as movable in the X direction along the top surface of the fixed board  13  in parallel with the first Y guide bar carrier  15 . A Y guide bar  17 , which is provided with a guide for the Y stage, is mounted in the Y direction to couple the first Y guide bar carrier  15  with the second Y guide bar carrier  16 . The first Y guide bar carrier  15 , the second Y guide bar carrier  16 , and the Y guide bar  17  form the X stage. 
     In this case, air jet units each forming part of an air bearing are provided at the bottom surface and the outer side of the first Y guide bar carrier  15 . Around the air jet units, a pre-pressuring mechanism such as a magnet, a vacuum pocket, etc. is mounted. The first Y guide bar carrier  15  is locked in the Z and Y directions with a predetermined space from the top surface of the fixed board  13  and the side of the X guide bar  14 , and is movable in the X direction. Similarly, an air jet unit forming part of an air bearing, and a pre-pressuring mechanism such as a magnet, a vacuum pocket, etc. are mounted onto the bottom surface of the second Y guide bar carrier  16 . The second Y guide bar carrier  16  is locked with a predetermined space from the fixed board  13  so that it can be moved in the X direction. 
     An X axis linear motor  18 A is set along the X direction on the fixed board  13  with the X guide bar  14  enclosed by the X axis linear motor  18 A and the first Y guide bar carrier  15 . The X axis linear motor  18 A is coupled with the first Y guide bar carrier  15  through a coupling material  19  mounted as enclosing the X guide bar  14 . Furthermore, the X axis linear motor  18 A comprises a movable element  20 A equipped with a coil on the coupling material  19  side; and a stator  21 A having a plurality of permanent magnets arranged such that the polarity changes alternately on the fixed board  13  side. A direct-acting guide  22 A is provided between the stator  21 A and top surface of the fixed board  13 . The direct-acting guide  22 A comprises a rail  22 A a  fixed on the fixed board  13 ; and a plurality of drag materials  22 A b  having dragging movement on the rail  22 A a  in the X direction by means of a number of small ball bearings. The drag materials  22 A b  are fixed to the bottom surface of the stator  21 A with an adhesive, etc. The direct-acting guide  22 A can be a guide, etc. of a hydrostatic bearing system. 
     The X axis linear motor  18 B arranged in the X direction is coupled with the Y guide bar  17  through a coupling material  23 . The X axis linear motor  18 B comprises a movable element  20 B provided with a coil on the coupling material  23  side, and a stator  21 B having a plurality of permanent magnets on the fixed board  13  side. A direct-acting guide  22 B, through which the stator  21 B has dragging movement back and forth in the X direction, is mounted between the stator  21 B and the top surface of the fixed board  13 . That is, the stators  21 A and  21 B of the X axis linear motors  18 A and  18 B are locked by the direct-acting guides  22 A and  22 B such that they cannot be moved in the Y direction, but are set to have dragging movement in the X direction. In this case, the stators  21 A and  21 B are assigned a damping force by a damping material to offset the reaction when they are driven. The X axis linear motors  18 A and  18 B drive the X stage in the X direction in parallel in the moving coil system. 
     A pair of X direction locking bearing materials  24  are arranged with a space of at least several μm at the side of the Y stage in a way that the Y guide bar  17  is set to move in the X direction. A Z direction floating bearing plate (not shown in the drawings) is fixed to the bottom surface of the X direction locking bearing material  24 . A sample stand  25  is fixed to the top surface of the X direction locking bearing material  24 . A wafer W to be exposed is held on the sample stand  25  through a wafer holder. In the present example, the pair of X direction locking bearing materials  24 , the Z direction floating bearing plate, and the sample stand  25  form the Y stage. 
     In this case, three or more sets of an air jet unit and a pre-pressuring device such as a vacuum pocket, a magnet, etc. (not shown in the attached drawings), forming an air bearing, are incorporated into the bottom surface (opposite the fixed board  13 ) of the Z direction floating bearing plate. Thus, the weight of the Y stage is supported by the air bearing system. Furthermore, a pair of X direction locking bearing materials  24  are supported by the non-contact air bearing system. Each of the pair of X direction locking bearing materials  24  applies an air jet to the Y guide bar  17 , keeps a given gap without contact between the Y stage and the Y guide bar  17  based on the balance between the air pressures of the air jets, and locks the movement in the X direction. As a result, the Y stage is locked in the X and Y directions without contact, and can be moved in the Y direction along the Y guide bar  17 . 
     Stators  27 A and  27 B each provided with a coil are mounted in parallel with the Y direction to couple the first Y guide bar carrier  15  and the second Y guide bar carrier  16  with both ends of a pair of the X direction locking bearing materials  24  to drive the Y stage. A movable element  28 A provided with a plurality of permanent magnets fixed in the shape of ‘’ enclosing the stator  27 A to the outer side of the X direction locking bearing material  24  on the +X direction side. A movable element (not shown in the drawings) provided with a plurality of permanent magnets is fixed in the shape of ‘’ enclosing the stator  27 B to the outer side of the X direction locking bearing material  24  on the −X direction side. Y axis linear motors  26 A and  26 B in the two-axis moving magnet system are designed using the stators  27 A and  27 B and a corresponding movable element  28 A, etc. The Y stage is driven in the Y direction by these Y axis linear motors  26 A and  26 B. 
     The position along the Z direction (position for focus) and the tilt angle around the X and Y axes of the sample stand  25  over the X direction locking bearing material  24  on the Y stage can be amended. An X axis moving mirror  29 X and a Y axis moving mirror  29 Y are fixed to the ends of the sample stand  25  respectively in the −X and +X directions. A laser beam is emitted in parallel with the X axis from two-axes laser interferometers  31 XA and  31 XB of the X axis attached to a support material  30  fixed to the side in the −X direction on the fixed board  13  to the moving mirror  29 X. Laser interferometers  31 XA and  31 XB obtain the X coordinate of the moving mirror  29 X (sample stand  25 ). 
     The laser beam from a laser interferometer  31 Y of the Y axis attached to the support material  30  is reflected on a mirror  32  attached to the optical system support frame (not shown in the drawings) attached to the support material  30 , and is then emitted to the moving mirror  29 Y in parallel with the Y axis. The laser interferometer  31 Y obtains the Y coordinate of the moving mirror  29 Y (sample stand  25 ). 
     FIGS. 3 through 5 show the sample stand  25 . A base  25   a  is made of ceramics or carbon fiber for rigidity and lightness. Onto the base  25   a , three stators (single-phase coils)  34   a ,  34   b , and  34   c  of a bipolar single-phase linear motor unit (hereinafter referred to as LDM)  33 , which is a magnetic drive device, are mounted at 120 degree intervals around the base  25   a . Three fixtures  36   a ,  36   b , and  36   c  for mounting leaf springs  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c  are attached at 120 degree intervals around the base  25   a . Furthermore, height detectors (for example, a capacitance sensor, etc.)  38   a ,  38   b , and  38   c  are provided near the stators  34   a ,  34   b , and  34   c  respectively. The height detectors  38   a ,  38   b , and  38   c  obtain the displacement of the base  25   a  and the holder table  37  in the Z direction. 
     The leaf springs  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c  and a permanent magnet  39  (of cobalt, nickel, neodymiumiron-boron, etc.) for holding are attached to the fixtures  36   a ,  36   b , and  36   c . As shown in FIG. 5, the leaf spring  35   a  is attached to a first plane  36 - 1  of the fixture  36 . The permanent magnet  39  is attached to a second plane  36 - 2  of the fixtures  36   a ,  36   b , and  36   c.    
     The leaf springs  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c  are formed of a rectangular thin metal plate for a spring (for example, stainless steel, etc.), and are screwed to the fixtures  36   a ,  36   b , and  36   c  respectively, and are screwed to the bottom surfaces of respective projections  45   a ,  45   b , and  45   c  projecting from the holder table  37 . That is, the leaf springs  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c  couple the base  25   a  with the holder table  37 . The leaf springs  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c  are thin and long in the horizontal direction of the leaf springs. Therefore, they are rigid in the X and Y directions, and the rotation direction of the Z axis (hereinafter referred to as the ωz direction), and are not rigid in the Z direction, the rotation direction of the X axis (hereinafter referred to as the ωx direction), and the rotation direction of the Y axis (hereinafter referred to as the ωy direction). 
     Movable elements  41   a ,  41   b , and  41   c  of the LDM  33  are arranged as enclosing the stators  34   a ,  34   b , and  34   c . Two permanent magnets are arranged in the Z direction. The movable elements  41   a ,  41   b , and  41   c  are, as shown in FIG. 5, fixed as enclosing with the holder table  37  the leaf springs  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c . The movable elements  41   a ,  41   b , and  41   c  are fixed at 120 degree intervals on the holder table  37  side corresponding to the stators  34   a ,  34   b , and  34   c . The movable elements  41   a ,  41   b , and  41   c  are formed by permanent magnets  43   a  and  43   b  (of cobalt, nickel, neodymium-iron-boron, etc.), a yoke  42 , etc. 
     Two permanent magnets  43   a  and  43   b  are arranged at the movable elements  41   a ,  41   b , and  41   c  (same as the opposite side enclosing the stators). The N pole of the permanent magnet  43   a  faces the stator side while the S pole of the permanent magnet  43   b  faces the stator side. Therefore, the magnetic field is generated in the X direction. The intensity of the magnetic field alters according to the intensity of the permanent magnets  43   a  and  43   b , and by changing the thickness of the yoke  42 . When an electric current flows in the direction vertical to the magnetic field, a Lorentz force is generated at the stator, and each of the movable elements  41  starts moving by receiving a downward force in the Z direction. 
     The holder table  37  is made of ceramics or carbon fibers, and is moved optionally in the Z, ωx, and ωy directions by the electromagnetic induction of the LDM  33 . For example, when the same quantity of an electric current I flows through the three stators  34   a ,  34   b , and  34   c , the holder table  37  moves up and down in the Z direction in its horizontal state. When no electric current flows through one stator with the same quantity of an electric current flowing through two other stators, the holder table  37  moves (rotates) in the ωx direction, the ωy direction, or the direction of the composite of ωx and ωy. If no current flows through two stators while an electric current flows through another stator, then the holder table  37  moves (rotates) in the direction of the composite of ωx and ωy. 
     A wafer holder  44  and the moving mirrors  29 X and  29 Y are mounted on the holder table  37 . Permanent magnets  46  are attached through a yoke  47  to the top surfaces of the projections  45   a ,  45   b , and  45   c  projecting from the holder table  37 . The permanent magnets  46  are equally arranged at the projections  45   a ,  45   b , and  45   c , and face the respective permanent magnets  39  attached separately as described above. The holder table  37  receives an upward force in the Z direction by the permanent magnets  39  and  46  attracting each other. 
     When the holder table  37  analyzes the vibration mode of the holder table  37 , i.e., when the holder table  37  is driven by the electromagnetic drive device, the holder table  37  is waveringly vibrated in the Z direction as shown in FIG. 6, and the four corners  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c , and  37   d  are the antinodes of the vibration. Therefore, the bottom surface of the holder table  37  is provided with a dynamic damper  50  for each of the four corners  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c , and  37   d.    
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the dynamic damper  50  comprises a base unit  51  attached to the holder table  37 ; antivibration materials (elastic substances)  52  provided on both sides of the base unit  51  in the Z axis direction; and masses  53  attached to the base unit  51  through each of the antivibration materials  52 . 
     The base unit  51  has the shape of a gate provided with a flat panel  51   b  between two leg units  51   a . The base of the leg unit  51   a  is attached to the bottom surface of the holder table  37  with the flat panel  51   b  kept vertical to the Z direction. 
     The antivibration material  52  is attached to both top and bottom surfaces of the flat panel  51   b . The cross section of the antivibration material  52  is square, and is evenly thick in the Z direction. The antivibration material  52  can be made of a material having a relatively large elasticity modulus such as rubber, etc. 
     The mass  53  is attached to both top and bottom surfaces of the flat panel  51   b  through the antivibration materials  52 . The surface of the mass  53  is rectangular and is larger than the cross section of the antivibration material  52 . The mass  53  is a plate which is evenly thick in the Z direction. The masses  53  are coupled with each other by spacers  54 , and are formed as the mass body  55  including the mass of the spacers  54 . Cutoff units  51   c  are formed in the base unit  51  so as not to interfere with the spacers  54 . 
     In the above described dynamic damper  50 , it is set that the natural frequency of the vibration system including the antivibration material  52  and the mass body  55  in the Z direction is nearly equal to the frequency generated on the holder table  37  in the Z direction during level adjustment. For example, the natural frequency of the dynamic damper  50  in the Z direction is set to be equal to the frequency on the holder table  37  in the Z direction by appropriately selecting the material, shape, mass, etc. of the antivibration material  52  or the material, shape, mass, etc. of the mass body  55 . 
     Since the antivibration material  52  is thicker in the Z direction, and its cross section is narrower than the area of the horizontal plane of the mass  53 , the dynamic damper  50  is not rigid in the X, Y, ωx, ωy, and ωz directions, and the vibration system containing the antivibration material  52  and the mass body  55  is easily deformed as shown in FIGS. 9 through 11, thereby lowering the natural frequency in each of the above described directions. 
     In short, the dynamic damper  50  effectively controls the vibration in the Z direction generated on the holder table  37  during level adjustment, but does not control the vibration in the X, Y, ωx, ωy, and ωz directions so much as in the Z direction. That is, the dynamic damper  50  has an appropriate vibration control effect only in the Z direction, and has no effective vibration control on any other directions. 
     When the holder table  37  vibrates during level adjustment, the vibration system containing the antivibration material  52  and the mass body  55  is excited in the Z direction. When the vibration system is excited, the vibration energy of the holder table  37  is absorbed by the dynamic damper  50 , and the vibration energy of the holder table  37  is decreased, thereby suppressing the vibration. Furthermore, since each of the dynamic dampers  50  is fixed to the corresponding corner  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c , or  37   d , which is an antinode of the vibration generated on the holder table  37 , the vibration generated on the holder table  37  can be effectively suppressed. 
     The number and positions of the dynamic dampers  50  are determined by assuming that the four corners of the holder table  37  vibrate up and down as the antinodes of the vibration based on the analysis of the vibration mode of the holder table  37 . However, the vibration mode of the holder table  37  is not limited to the state shown in FIG. 6, but can be considered to alter, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, depending on the size, shape, rigidity of the material, weight including the wafer holder  34 , etc. Therefore, eight dynamic dampers  50   37 ′ a  through  37 ′ h  are provided on the holder table  37 ′. Thus, it is desired that the number and positions of the dynamic dampers  50 , and the level of the frequency of the dynamic damper  50  appropriate for more efficient frequency control effect are changed based on the vibration mode of a target holder table. 
     Additionally, the dynamic damper  50  can be designed as shown in FIGS. 13 through 15, other than the structure shown by referring to FIGS. 7 and 8. The dynamic damper  50  shown in FIG. 13 is formed by the holder table  37 , and the leg unit  51   a  and the flat panel  51   b  on both sides of the base unit  51 . The masses  53  are attached between the holder table  37  and the flat panel  51   b  through the antivibration materials  52 . 
     The dynamic damper  50  shown in FIG. 14 is equipped with the holder table  37  over the mass  53  through the antivibration material  52 . This configuration also has the function of suppressing the vibration. 
     The dynamic damper  50  shown in FIG. 15 is realized by forming the antivibration system of the dynamic damper  50  by a rubber antivibration material  52  and a compression spring  56 . The elasticity modulus of the antivibration material  52  can be determined by the area, thickness, rigidity, etc. of the antivibration material, but also can be adjusted by the compression spring  56 . It can also be applied to the dynamic damper  50  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     In the holder table  37 , it is necessary to analyze the vibration mode in all of the X, Y, Z, ωx, ωy, and ωz directions including the movement of the XY stage as well as the level adjustment, so that a vibration can be controlled in an optional direction. In this case, the dynamic damper  50  provided for suppressing the vibration in the Z direction has a small influence on the vibration control in other optional directions. Therefore, the vibration control in other directions can be designed without consideration of the influence of the dynamic damper  50  for controlling the vibration in the Z direction. 
     In the above described embodiment, the dynamic damper  50  is provided for controlling the vibration generated on the holder table  37  in the Z direction. Using a dynamic damper with the similar configuration, the vibration generated on a holder table in other directions can also be suppressed. For example, the vibration generated on the holder table in the X direction can be suppressed by providing a dynamic damper having the natural frequency nearly equal to the frequency generated on the holder table in the X direction. Thus, the vibration generated on the holder table can be controlled to a high degree by controlling the vibration in each direction. 
     The present invention can be applied to various table support apparatuses, other than an exposure apparatus for production of semiconductor elements, for suppressing the vibration generated on a table. 
     As described above, the table support apparatus and the exposure apparatus according to the present invention have the following effects. 
     A vibration can be suppressed without coupling a base with a holder table as in the conventional damper mechanism, by providing a dynamic damper for a holder table supported as movable in at least one optional direction, thereby generating no deformation of the holder table. As a result, the problem of the delay in alignment due to the deformation of the holder table can be solved, thereby largely improving the responsiveness at a level adjustment. 
     The vibration generated in the moving direction of the holder table can be controlled by providing appropriate rigidity for the dynamic damper in the moving direction of the holder table. 
     The vibration generated in the moving direction of the holder table can be controlled by the vibration system comprising an elastic substance and a mass body and the vibration of the holder table can be successfully damped by designing a dynamic damper as comprising a base unit attached to a holder table; the elastic substances which have appropriate rigidity in the moving direction of the holder table and are attached to the base unit on both sides of the holder table in the moving direction; and the mass body for attaching the base unit through the elastic substances on both sides of the moving directions of the holder table so that the mass body can be coupled with the base unit. 
     Furthermore, the damping performance can be reduced by setting a lower rigidity against the horizontal vibration generated on the holder table by, for example, the operation of the XY state, and against the rotation vibration from a vertical axis, by appropriately selecting the shape or material of the elastic substance in the above described dynamic damper. In the holder table, it is necessary to analyze the vibration mode in six optional directions including the movement of the XY state as well as the level adjustment so that the vibration can be controlled in each of the optional directions. If the above described dynamic damper is adopted, the vibration can be effectively controlled in a predetermined direction, and the vibration is not controlled so much as in directions other than the predetermined direction. As a result, even if the vibration is controlled in one direction, it does not have a large influence on the vibration control in other directions, thereby easily controlling the vibration of the holder table in each direction to a high degree. 
     The vibration of the holder table can be more effectively controlled by fixing the dynamic damper to the antinode of the vibration generated on the holder table. 
     The exposure apparatus according to the present embodiment can be a step and repeat type exposure apparatus for exposing a pattern of a mask with the mask and the wafer set still and sequentially moving the wafer step by step as well as a scanning type exposure apparatus for exposing a pattern of a mask by synchronously moving the mask and a base panel. 
     The application of the exposure apparatus is not limited to an exposure apparatus for producing a semiconductor element. For example, it can be applied to a liquid crystal exposure apparatus for exposing a liquid crystal display element pattern to a rectangular glass plate, and to an exposure apparatus for producing a thin film magnetic head. 
     Furthermore, the light source of the exposure apparatus according to the present embodiment can be a charged particle ray such as an X-ray, an electron beam, etc. as well as a g-ray (436 nm), i-ray (365 nm), KrF excimer laser (248 nm), ArF excimer laser (193 nm), F 2  laser (157 nm), etc. For example, when an electron beam is used, thermoelectron radiative lanthanum hexavalent (LaB 6 ) and tantalum (Ta) can be used as an electron gun. 
     The exposure apparatus according to the present embodiment can be produced by incorporating an illuminating optical system comprising a plurality of lenses and a projection optical system into the body of the exposure apparatus to make an optical adjustment, connecting a wire and a pipe by attaching a reticle stage and wafer stage comprising a number of mechanical parts to the body of the exposure apparatus, and performing a general adjustment (electric adjustment, operation confirmation, etc.). The assembly of the wafer stage includes a process of attaching a dynamic damper according to the present embodiment. 
     It is desired that the exposure apparatus is produced in a clean room in which the temperature and the cleanliness are well maintained.