Patent ID: 8711323

Claim:
An exposure apparatus comprising: a projection optical system to project a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, said projection optical system including an optical element closest to the substrate; a liquid supply system to supply a liquid to a space between the optical element and the substrate, the liquid supply system comprising a liquid confinement member extending at least partly between the optical element and the substrate and spaced apart from and out of direct contact with the optical element, the liquid confinement member having: a surface, extending around the space and facing toward the substrate, defining the space with a cross-sectional area smaller than the area of the pattern receiving surface of the substrate, an inlet to supply the liquid, an outlet in the surface to exhaust the liquid, and an open aperture between the optical element and the substrate to allow fluid connection between the optical element and the substrate, the open aperture having a width smaller than a bottom surface of the optical element; a temperature controller to control a temperature of the liquid, wherein (a) said temperature controller controls the temperature of the liquid based on temperature information at a plurality of locations on or adjacent (i) the substrate, or (ii) the optical element, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), or (b) a projection optical system compensator adjusts an optical property of the projection optical system based on temperature information at a plurality of locations on or adjacent (iv) the substrate, or (v) the optical element, or (vi) both (iv) and (v), or (c) both (a) and (b); and a stage to move the substrate relative to the optical element and the liquid confinement member.