Abstract: A charged particle beam device for inspecting a specimen includes a charged particle beam source adapted to generate a primary charged particle beam; an objective lens device adapted to direct the primary charged particle beam onto the specimen; a retarding field device adapted to accelerate secondary charged particles starting from the specimen, a first detector device having a central opening, includes at least two azimuthal detector segments for detecting secondary particles, wherein the objective lens device is adapted such that particles with different starting angles from the specimen exhibit crossovers at substantially the same distance from the specimen between the objective lens and the detector device, and an aperture located between the objective lens and the crossovers, having an opening which is equal to or smaller than the central opening in the detector device.

Abstract: It is provided a charged particle beam device for inspecting a specimen, comprising a charged particle beam source adapted to generate a primary charged particle beam; an objective lens device adapted to direct the primary charged particle beam onto the specimen; and a detector device comprising one or more charged particle detectors adapted to detect a secondary charged particle beam generated by the primary charged particle beam at the specimen and passing through the objective lens device, the secondary charged particle beam comprising a first group of secondary charged particles starting from the specimen with high starting angles and a second group of secondary charged particles starting from the specimen with low starting angles; wherein at least one of the charged particle detectors is adapted to detect depending on the starting angles one group of the first and the second groups of secondary charged particles.

Abstract: A charged particle gun alignment assembly for emitting a charged particle beam along an optical axis of a charged particle beam device is described. The charged particle gun alignment assembly is configured to compensate for misalignment of the charged particle beam and includes a charged particle source having an emitter with a virtual source defining a virtual source plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; a condenser lens for imaging the virtual source; a final beam limiting aperture adapted for shaping the charged particle beam; and a double stage deflection assembly positioned between the condenser lens and the final beam limiting aperture, wherein the working distance of the condenser lens is 15 mm or less.

Abstract: A magnetic lens for a charged particle beam device and a charged particle beam device are provided. The magnetic lens includes a coil with coil windings to be excited for generation of a magnetic field, a pole piece to guide the magnetic field, a heat shield, which is connected to a cooling system, and a thermal insulation layer provided between the heat shield and the coil.

Abstract: A method and a device for stabilizing the emission current of an emitter of a charged particle beam device are provided. In the method, the emitter is operated under predetermined operation parameters including at least one voltage with a predetermined value. The method includes determining a first value of the emission current under the predetermined operation parameters and flash cleaning the emitter while a first electric field is applied to the emitter. The first electric field is generated by the at least one voltage having a first value of the at least one voltage, wherein the first value of the at least one voltage is provided in dependence of the determined first value of the emission current.

Abstract: A charged particle beam device is provided. The device includes a primary objective lens for focusing a primary charged particle beam, the primary objective lens defining an optical axis, a specimen stage defining a specimen location area, a deflection unit for deflecting the primary charged particle beam between the primary objective lens and the specimen location area, towards a beam path for impingement on the specimen, wherein the deflection unit is movable with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: A charged particle beam device is described. The charged particle beam device includes an emitter adapted for emitting a primary charged particle beam, a specimen location adapted for holding a specimen, from which secondary and/or backscattered charged particles are released on impingement of the primary charged particle beam, a detection unit adapted for detecting the secondary particles and/or secondary particles, and a beam guiding unit adapted for guiding the primary charged particle beam to the detection unit for impingement of a primary charged particle beam on the detection unit.

Abstract: A scanning charged particle beam device (100) is described. The scanning charged particle beam device includes a beam emitter (102) for emitting a primary electron beam, a first scan stage for scanning the beam over a specimen, an achromatic beam separator (130) adapted for separating a signal electron beam from the primary electron beam, and a detection unit (172,174,178) for detecting signal electrons.

Abstract: A charged particle beam device is provided including a particle source emitting a primary particle beam, a secondary particle beam generated by the impingement of the primary particle beam on the sample, a detection unit for detecting the secondary particle beam, the detector having at least two detector channels, and a distribution deflecting device for deflecting the secondary particle beam in a chronological sequence. Further, a detection assembly for a fast wafer inspection system is provided including a distribution deflecting device for distributing a secondary particle beam in a chronological sequence and a detector for detecting the secondary particle beam, the detector having multiple detector channels. Further, a method of operating a particle beam device with chronological resolution is provided.

Abstract: A lens assembly having a magnetic lens assembly for a charged particle beam system is provided. The lens assembly includes: a first pole piece having a connecting portion of the first pole piece and a gap portion of the first pole piece, a second pole piece having a connecting portion of the second pole piece and a gap portion of the second pole piece, wherein the first pole piece and the second pole piece provide a gap at the respective gap portions, a coil for exciting the magnetic lens assembly, a centering element comprising a material that has a smaller Young's modulus than the material of the first and the material of the second pole piece, wherein the pole pieces are connected with each other at the respective connecting portions and have a centering element receiving portion towards the respective gap portion ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: The invention provides a multiple-lens assembly 1 for a charged particle beam device which comprises at least two lens sub units 2, each sub unit having an optical axis 3, wherein at least two of the optical axes of the lens sub units are inclined to each other. Further, the invention provides a charged particle beam device which comprises at least one multiple-lens assembly and a method for operating a charged particle beam device.

Abstract: A method of pre-treating an ultra high vacuum charged particle gun chamber by ion stimulated desorption is provided. The method includes generating a plasma for providing a plasma ion source, and applying a negative potential to at least one surface in the gun chamber, wherein the negative potential is adapted for extracting an ion flux from the plasma ion source to the at least one surface for desorbing contamination particles from the at least one surface by the ion flux impinging on the at least one surface.

Abstract: An electron beam apparatus and a method for providing an energy-filtered primary electron beam are described. Therein, a primary electron beam having an asymmetric first energy distribution is generated by means of an electron source. The primary electron beam is high-pass energy filtered using a retarding lens.

Abstract: A lens assembly having an electrostatic lens component for a charged particle beam system is provided. The assembly includes: a first electrode having a conically shaped portion, a second electrode having a conically shaped portion, and a first insulator having a conically shaped portion, wherein the first insulator comprises two extending portions towards each of its ends, and wherein the two extending portions are formed to generate a gap between the insulator and each of the adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning electron beam device (100) is described. The multi-bea scanning electron beam device having a column, includes a multi-beam emitter (110) for emitting a plurality of electron beams (12,13,14), at least one common electron beam optical element (130) having a common opening for at least two of the plurality of electron beams and being adapted for commonly influencing at least two of the plurality of electron beams, at least one individual electron beam optical element (140) for individually influencing the plurality of electron beams, a common objective lens assembly (150) for focusing the plurality of electrons beams having a common excitation for focusing at least two of the plurality of electron beams, and adapted for focusing the plurality of electron beams onto a specimen (20) for generation of a plurality of signal beams (121, 131,141), and a detection assembly (170) for individually detecting each signal beam on a corresponding detection element.

Abstract: A system and method for multi detector detection of electrons, the method includes the steps of directing a primary electron beam, through a column, to interact with an inspected object, directing, by introducing a substantial electrostatic field, electrons reflected or scattered from the inspected objects towards multiple interior detectors, whereas at least some of the directed electrons are reflected or scattered at small angle in relation to the inspected object; and receiving detection signals from at least one interior detector.

Abstract: A charged particle detector assembly comprises a particle detector, which has at least one particle sensitive region for detecting at least a portion of the spatial distribution of charged particles and for generating a two-dimensional optical signal which correlates to the detected spatial distribution. Further, an image conduit has an input coupled to the particle sensitive region of the particle detector for transmitting the two-dimensional optical signal to at least one optical detector. Further, a selecting means is adapted for selecting at least a portion of the two-dimensional optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a method for the examination of specimen with a beam of charged particles. The method provides one or more images of the specimen made with different view angles, so that, compared to a single image of the specimen, a lot of additional information about the specimen can be accessed. The different view angles (angles of incidence) are achieved by tilting the beam between the two images and moving the specimen to a new position so that the displacement of the beam caused by the tilting of the beam is compensated. Accordingly, while displaying/recording the second image the beam scans over the same area as it has scanned while displaying/recording the first image.

Abstract: It is provided a charged particle beam device for inspecting a specimen, comprising a charged particle beam source adapted to generate a primary charged particle beam; an objective lens device adapted to direct the primary charged particle beam onto the specimen; and a detector device comprising one or more charged particle detectors adapted to detect a secondary charged particle beam generated by the primary charged particle beam at the specimen and passing through the objective lens device, the secondary charged particle beam comprising a first group of secondary charged particles starting from the specimen with high starting angles and a second group of secondary charged particles starting from the specimen with low starting angles; wherein at least one of the charged particle detectors is adapted to detect depending on the starting angles one group of the first and the second groups of secondary charged particles.

Abstract: A charged particle gun alignment assembly for emitting a charged particle beam along an optical axis of a charged particle beam device is described. The charged particle gun alignment assembly is configured to compensate for misalignment of the charged particle beam and includes a charged particle source having an emitter with a virtual source defining a virtual source plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; a condenser lens for imaging the virtual source; a final beam limiting aperture adapted for shaping the charged particle beam; and a double stage deflection assembly positioned between the condenser lens and the final beam limiting aperture, wherein the working distance of the condenser lens is 15 mm or less.