Wynne-Dyson optical system with variable magnification

1. A Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system having a nominal 1× magnification that can be varied, comprising along an optical axis:

a concave mirror having concave surface;

a positive lens group axially spaced apart from the concave surface of the concave mirror;

first and second total-internal-reflection (TIR) prisms disposed adjacent the positive lens group opposite the concave mirror and on respective sides of the optical axis;

wherein the positive lens group includes a split lens that defines first and second split lens elements that reside on respective sides of the optical axis and respectively adjacent the first and second TIR prisms, the first and second split lens elements being axially movable in opposite directions to vary the magnification from the nominal 1× magnification by up to about 500 parts per million.

2. The Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the microlithographic lens images light over an i-line LED spectrum.

3. The Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system of claim 1 , having an image field size that is nominally 106 mm by 36 mm.

4. A microlithographic optical system having a nominal 1× magnification that can be varied, comprising along an optical axis:

a concave mirror, a positive lens group, and first and second total-internal-reflection (TIR) prisms, arranged in a Wynne-Dyson configuration; and

wherein the positive lens group includes first and second split lens elements that reside adjacent the first and second TIR prisms respectively, the first and second split lens elements being axially movable in opposite directions to vary the magnification from the nominal 1× magnification.

5. The microlithographic optical system of claim 4 , wherein the variation in magnification is up to about 500 parts per million.

6. The microlithographic optical system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second split lens elements have a movement range of Δz=±5 mm.

7. A method of varying the magnification in a 1× magnification Wynne-Dyson optical system having first and second prisms and a positive lens group arranged relative to an optical axis and having a ray-path intersection point located therein, comprising:

axially moving in opposite directions first and second split lens elements of the positive lens group from a neutral position that defines the 1× magnification to cause a change in the 1× magnification by up to 500 parts per million, wherein the neutral position is prism-wise of the ray-intersection point.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein axially moving the first and second split lens elements includes moving the first and second split lens elements by up to ±5 mm relative to the neutral position.

9. A Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system having a nominal 1× magnification that can be varied and ray-path intersection point, comprising along an optical axis:

a concave mirror having concave surface;

a positive lens group spaced apart from the concave surface of the concave mirror and that includes the ray-path intersection point;

first and second total-internal-reflection (TIR) prisms disposed adjacent the positive lens group opposite the concave mirror and on respective sides of the optical axis;

wherein the positive lens group includes a split lens that defines first and second split lens elements that reside on respective sides of the optical axis and respectively adjacent the first and second TIR prisms;

wherein the first and second split lens elements reside prism-wise of the ray-path intersection point; and

wherein at least one of the first and second split lens elements is axially movable to vary the magnification.

10. The Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second split lens elements are axially movable in opposite directions.

11. The Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system of claim 10 , wherein magnification from the nominal 1× magnification is variable by up to 500 parts per million.

12. The Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second split lens elements can move axially by up to ±5 mm relative to a neutral position associated with the 1× magnification.

13. An adjustable positive lens group for a Wynne-Dyson microlithographic optical system having a ray-path intersection point, a magnification and first and second prisms operably disposed on opposite sides of an optical axis, comprising:

at least one positive lens element;

a split lens that consists of first and second split lens elements that reside on respective sides of the optical axis and respectively operably disposed immediately adjacent the first and second prisms and prism-wise of the ray-path intersection point and of the at least one positive element; and

wherein at least one of the first and second split lens elements is axially movable to vary the magnification.

14. The adjustable positive lens group of claim 13 , wherein the at least one positive lens element includes a doublet lens and two single lens elements.

15. The adjustable positive lens group of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second split lens elements is axially movable.

16. The adjustable positive lens group of claim 13 , wherein the first and second split lens elements are formed from sections of a plano-convex lens.

17. The adjustable positive lens group of claim 13 , wherein the first and second split lens elements are each formed from S-FPL51Y glass.

18. The adjustable positive lens group of claim 13 , wherein the axial movement of at least one of the first and second split lens elements varies the magnification by up to 500 parts per million (ppm).

19. The adjustable positive lens group of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second split lens elements can axially move by up to ±5 mm relative to a neutral position.