Patent ID: 8457281

Claim:
A method for producing a multilayer coating comprising a plurality of layers for reflecting radiation in the soft X-ray or extreme-ultra-violet wavelength range on an optical element which has an optical surface and is operated at an operating temperature (T OP ) of at least 30° C., comprising: determining an optical design for the multilayer coating which defines an optical desired layer thickness (n OP d OP ) of the layers of the multilayer coating at the operating temperature (T OP ), and applying the layers of the multilayer coating with an optical actual layer thickness (n B d B ) selected such that a layer thickness change (n OP d OP −n B d B ) caused by thermal expansion of the layers between a coating temperature (T B ) and the operating temperature (T OP ) is compensated, wherein at least one of: the optical design of the multilayer coating of the optical element is at least substantially optimized with regard to reflectivity of the optical element for an operating wavelength (λ 0 ) at the operating temperature (T OP ) and the operating temperature (T OP ) of the optical element varies at least in one direction along the optical surface and, during the coating of the optical element the layers are applied with actual layer thicknesses (d B,x ) which vary along the at least one direction.