Patent ID: 7426082

Claim:
A projection exposure machine for microlithography, comprising: a catadioptric projection objective for projecting a mask pattern arranged in an object plane of the projection objective into an image plane of the projection objective with the formation of at least one real intermediate image; a device for moving a mask bearing the mask pattern perpendicular to an optical axis of the projection objective; a device for moving a substrate arranged in a region of the image plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the projection objective; and a device for introducing an immersion medium with a high refractive index between an exit surface of the projection objective and the image plane during operation, wherein the projection objective has at least one catadioptric objective part that comprises a concave mirror; wherein a sum S of a number of the intermediate images and a number of mirrors of the projection objective including the at least one concave mirror is an odd whole number; and wherein a control device for driving the device for moving the mask and for driving the device for moving the substrate is configured in such a way that the mask and the substrate are moved synchronously in the same, parallel directions; wherein the projection objective has an image-side numerical aperture NA>0.98 in conjunction with the immersion medium; and wherein the projection objective has at least two concave mirrors.