Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for determining at least one parameter related to charged particles emitted from a particle emitting sample. The method comprises guiding a beam of charged particles into an entrance of a measurement region by means of a lens system, and detecting positions of the particles indicative of said at least one parameter within the measurement region. Furthermore, the method comprises deflecting the particle beam at least twice in the same coordinate direction before entrance of the particle beam into the measurement region. Thereby, both the position and the direction of the particle beam at the entrance of the measurement region can be controlled in a way that to some extent eliminates the need for physical manipulation of the sample. This in turn allows the sample to be efficiently cooled such that the energy resolution in energy measurements can be improved.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved electron-optical apparatus for the inspection and review of the specimen, and for the defect inspection, an inspection mode of operation is performed to generate inspection data, wherein the large beam current is formed by a magnetic immersion lens to scan the specimen, and preferably the objective lens system, a swing objective retarding immersion lens, focuses the beam current and generates the large scanning field, and for the defect review, the review mode of operation is performed to analyze the defects, wherein the large beam current is abandoned and the small beam current is adopted to examine the specimen without a large scanning field, and in order to properly select and detect signal charged particles excited from the specimen, a first Wien filter is utilized to select the acquired signal particles and a second Wien filter is used to compensate the aberrations induced when the signal particles pass through the first Wien filter.
Abstract:
An electron microscope is offered which can facilitate adjusting a monochromator. The electron microscope (100) includes the monochromator (20) having an energy filter (22) for dispersing the beam (EB) according to energy and a slit plate (24) disposed on an energy dispersive plane. The slit plate (24) is provided with plural energy-selecting slits (25) which are different in width taken in a direction where the beam (EB) is dispersed. The microscope (100) further includes a lens system (30) on which the beam impinges after being monochromatized by the monochromator (20), a first measuring section (50) for measuring the intensity of the beam (EB) emitted from an electron beam source (10), a second measuring section (60) for measuring the intensity of the beam (EB) that has passed through an active one (25-L) of the energy-selecting slits (25), and a slit identifying portion (72) for identifying the active energy-selecting slit (25-L) from the plural energy-selecting slits (25) on the basis of the results of measurements made by the first and second measuring sections (50, 60).
Abstract:
A mass analyzing electromagnet is provided. The mass analyzing electromagnet includes an analysis tube having an internal zone formed as a passage for the ion beam; and a shield member mounted to an inner wall surface of the analyzing tube, a portion of the shield member intersecting with a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of an ion beam and a mass-based separation direction of the ion beam so as to block a portion of the ion beam.
Abstract:
A method of performing spectroscopy in a Transmission Charged-Particle Microscope comprising: a specimen holder; a source, for producing a beam of charged particles; an illuminator, for directing said beam so as to irradiate the specimen; an imaging system, for directing a flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen onto a spectroscopic apparatus comprising a dispersing device for dispersing said flux into an energy-resolved array of spectral sub-beams, the method comprising: using an adjustable aperture device to admit a first portion of said array to a detector, while blocking a second portion of said array; providing; using a radiation sensor in said flux upstream of said aperture device to perform localized radiation sensing in a selected region of said second portion of the array, simultaneous with detection of said first portion by said detector; using a sensing result from said sensor to adjust a detection result from said detector.
Abstract:
A single column charged particle source with user selectable configurations operates in ion-mode for FIB operations or electron mode for SEM operations. Equipped with an x-ray detector, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis is possible. A user can selectively configure the source to prepare a sample in the ion-mode or FIB mode then essentially flip a switch selecting electron-mode or SEM mode and analyze the sample using EDS or other types of analysis.
Abstract:
One embodiment relates to a dual Wien-filter monochromator. A first Wien filter focuses an electron beam in a first plane while leaving the electron beam to be parallel in a second plane. A slit opening allows electrons of the electron beam having an energy within an energy range to pass through while blocking electrons of the electron beam having an energy outside the energy range. A second Wien filter focuses the electron beam to become parallel in the first plane while leaving the electron beam to be parallel in the second plane. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of improving the surface of an object treats the surface with a neutral beam formed from a gas cluster ion mean to create a surface texture and/or increase surface area.
Abstract:
A final energy filter includes a first adjustment electrode portion, an intermediate electrode portion, and a second adjustment electrode portion. The final energy filter further includes a power supply unit. The power supply unit is configured such that it applies the voltages separately to the first adjustment electrode portion, the intermediate electrode portion, and the second adjustment electrode portion. The power supply unit applies voltages to an upstream auxiliary electrode portion, a deflection electrode portion and a downstream auxiliary electrode portion, respectively, such that the energy range of ion beam in a first region between the upstream auxiliary electrode portion and the deflection electrode portion is approximately equal to that in a second region between the deflection electrode portion and the downstream auxiliary electrode portion.
Abstract:
The invention provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of an implantable object. The invention also provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of biological laboratory ware. The invention further provides a method of attaching cells to an object. The invention even further provides for a method of preparing an object for medical implantation. The invention also provides for an article with attached cell, and for an article for medical implantation. Improvements result from the application of gas-cluster ion beam technology and from the application of neutral beam technology, wherein neutral beams are derived from accelerated gas-cluster ion beams.