Patent ID: 7317571

Claim:
A catadioptric projection optical system for forming an intermediate image of a first object twice and for forming an image of the intermediate image onto a second object, said catadioptric projection optical system comprising: in order from the first object side and along an optical axis of said catadioptric projection optical system, a first dioptric group including a first lens group that has a positive refractive power and a second lens group that has a positive refractive power; a catadioptric group including a concave mirror and a third lens group that an incidence light and reflected light from said concave mirror pass; and a second dioptric group, wherein a first deflective reflector is arranged between the first lens group and the second lens group, a second deflective reflector is arranged between the second lens group and the third lens group or between the third lens group and the second dioptric group, a first intermediate image is formed between the second lens group and the concave mirror, and a second intermediate image is formed between the concave mirror and the second dioptric group.