| CPC H01L 21/6875 (2013.01) [G03F 7/70783 (2013.01); G03F 7/70825 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A substrate holder for use in a lithographic apparatus and configured to support a substrate, the substrate holder comprising:
a main body having a main body surface;
a plurality of burls projecting from the main body surface and each having a distal end surface which substantially conforms to a support plane and is configured for supporting the substrate; and
an edge seal projecting from the main body surface and extending around the plurality of burls so as to restrict gas flow when a substrate is held by the substrate holder; wherein:
the edge seal is spaced apart from the plurality of burls so as to define a gap between the edge seal and the plurality of burls, the gap having a gap width that is greater than or equal to about 75% of a pitch of the plurality of burls;
the plurality of burls comprises a first group of burls and a second group of burls, the second group of burls surrounding the first group of burls; and
the stiffness in a direction perpendicular to the support plane per unit area of the second group of burls is greater than or equal to about 150% of the stiffness in the direction perpendicular to the support plane per unit area of the first group of burls.
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