Patent ID: 8436984

Claim:
A lithographic apparatus comprising: a table; at least two target portions on the table or on an object on the table, and a surface material between the at least two target portions, the target portions not being on a resist-coated substrate; an optical system configured to project a beam of radiation, along an optical path towards the table, with a cross-section to irradiate the at least two target portions at the same time; and a shield, spaced apart from the table, moveable into the optical path to restrict the cross-section of the beam of radiation to restrict illumination of a location between the at least two target portions when the at least two target portions are irradiated at the same time, wherein the surface material at the location between the at least two target portions, when irradiated with radiation from the optical system, would: degrade, or deform, or both degrade and deform.