Patent ID: 7429116

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus having several optical elements, wherein at least one optical element is a mirror comprising a mirror support, said method comprising the following steps: a) providing an uncoated mirror support for the at least one mirror; b) assembling and adjusting the optical elements including the uncoated mirror support for the at least one mirror into a housing of the projection objective; c) obtaining measured data relating to at least one image property of the projection objective using measuring light; d) comparing the measured data with desired values; e) defining a surface deformation for the uncoated mirror support such that an improvement of the at least one image property can be achieved; f) producing the surface deformation defined in step e) on a surface of the uncoated mirror support; g) applying the coating onto the uncoated mirror support surface which has been reprocessed in step f); and h) assembling the mirror support coated in step g) into the housing.