Abstract: The particle beam irradiation apparatus includes: an irradiation unit configured to radiate a particle beam; a first detection unit configured to detect first particles; a second detection unit configured to detect second particles; an image forming unit configured to form an observation image based on a first signal obtained by the detection of the first particles, which is performed by the first detection unit, and to form an observation image based on a second signal obtained by the detection of the second particles, which is performed by the second detection unit; and a control unit configured to calculate a brightness of a first region in the formed first observation image and perform a brightness adjustment of the first detection unit based on a first target brightness as a first brightness adjustment when the brightness of the first region is different from the first target brightness.

Abstract: A liquid metal ion source (50) includes: a reservoir (10) configured to hold an ion material (M) forming a liquid metal; a needle electrode (20); an extraction electrode (22) configured to cause an ion of the ion material to be emitted from a distal end of the needle electrode; a beam diaphragm (24), which is arranged on a downstream side of the extraction electrode, and is configured to limit a beam diameter of the ion; and a vacuum chamber (30) configured to accommodate and hold the reservoir, the needle electrode, the extraction electrode, and the beam diaphragm in vacuum, wherein the liquid metal ion source further includes an oxidizing gas introducing portion (40), and wherein the oxidizing gas introducing portion communicates to the vacuum chamber, and is configured to introduce an oxidizing gas into a periphery of the needle electrode.

Abstract: An automatic sample preparation apparatus that automatically prepares a sample piece from a sample includes: a focused ion beam irradiation optical system configured to irradiate a focused ion beam; an electron beam irradiation optical system configured to irradiate an electron beam from a direction different from a direction of the focused ion beam; a sample piece transfer device configured to hold and transfer the sample piece separated and extracted from the sample; a detector configured to detect secondary charged particles emitted from an irradiation object by irradiating the irradiation object with the focused ion beam and/or the electron beam; and a computer configured to recognize a position of the sample piece transfer device by image-recognition using an image data of the focused ion beam and the electron beam generated by irradiating the sample piece transfer device with the focused ion beam and the electron beam, and drive the transfer device.

Abstract: To automatically repeat an operation of isolating a sample piece, which is formed by processing a sample with an ion beam, and transferring the sample piece to a sample piece holder, a charged particle beam device includes a computer configured to perform control so that, without rotating a needle with which the sample piece is fixed to the sample piece holder, a deposition film deposited on the needle is irradiated with a charged particle beam from a charged particle beam irradiation optical system.

Abstract: Automated processing is provided. A charged particle beam apparatus includes: an image identity degree determination unit determining whether an identity degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the identity degree indicating a degree of identity between a processing cross-section image that is an SEM image obtained through observation of a cross section of the sample by a scanning electron microscope, and a criterion image that is the processing cross-section image previously registered; and a post-determination processing unit performing a predetermined processing operation according to a result of the determination by the image identity degree determination unit.

Abstract: A charged particle beam device (10a) includes a computer (21) which controls multiple charged particle beam irradiation optical systems, the needle (18), and a gas supply portion (17) to transfer a sample piece Q to a predetermined position of the sample piece holder P, based on at least images of a sample piece holder (P), a needle (18), and the sample piece (Q) previously acquired by multiple charged particle beams.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an automatic sample preparation apparatus includes: a charged particle beam irradiation optical system configured to perform irradiation with a charged particle beam; a sample stage configured to move with the sample placed thereon; a sample piece transfer device for holding and transferring the sample piece separated and extracted from the sample; a sample piece holder-fixing bed configured to hold a sample piece holder to which the sample piece is transferred; a gas supply portion configured to irradiate gas forming a deposition film with the charged particle beam; and a computer configured to control the charged particle beam irradiation optical system, the sample piece transfer device, and the gas supply portion to transfer and stop the sample piece held by the sample piece transfer device with a gap between the sample piece holder and the sample piece, and connect the sample piece to the sample piece holder.

Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus which automatically prepares a sample piece from a sample, includes: a charged particle beam irradiation optical system configured to perform irradiation of a charged particle beam; a sample stage configured to move, the sample being placed on the sample stage; a sample piece relocation unit configured to hold and transport the sample piece which is separated and picked up from the sample; a holder fixing stage which holds a sample piece holder to which the sample piece is relocated; and a computer which performs positional control in relation to a target object based on a template and positional information which is obtained from an image of the target object, the template being generated based on an absorption current image of the target object which is acquired using the irradiation of the charged particle beam.

Abstract: A composite beam apparatus includes an electron beam column for irradiating an electron beam onto a sample, a focused ion beam column for irradiating a focused ion beam onto the sample to form a cross section, and a neutral particle beam column having an acceleration voltage set lower than that of the focused ion beam column for irradiating a neutral particle beam onto the sample to perform finish processing of the cross section. The electron beam column, the focused ion beam column, and the neutral particle beam column are arranged such that the beams of the columns cross each other at an irradiation point. A controller controls the electron beam column to irradiate and scan the electron beam on the sample during cross section processing by the focused ion beam column and during finish processing by the neutral particle beam column.

Abstract: Disclosed are a charged particle beam apparatus and a sample processing observation method, the method including: a sample piece formation process in which a sample is irradiated with a focused ion beam such that a sample piece is cut out from the sample; a cross-section processing process in which the sample piece support holds the sample piece and a cross section thereof is irradiated with the ion beam to process the cross section; a sample piece approach movement process in which the sample piece support holds the sample piece and the sample piece is moved to a position that is closer to an electron beam column than an intersection point of beam optical axes of the ion beam and an electron beam is; and a SEM image acquisition process in which the cross section is irradiated with the electron beam to acquire the SEM image of the cross section.

Abstract: (Task) To repeatedly perform an operation of extracting a sample piece formed by processing a sample with an ion beam and of transferring the extracted sample piece to a sample piece holder. (Problem Solving Means) A charged particle beam apparatus includes a computer that sets a shaping processing region including a bottom portion of sample piece in a thickness direction of the sample piece corresponding to a depth direction at the time of processing a sample after a needle holds the sample piece, and controls a focused ion beam irradiation optical system to irradiate the shaping processing region with a focused ion beam to thereby shape the sample piece.

Abstract: Disclosed are a charged particle beam apparatus wherein the charged particle beam apparatus can efficiently performs finish processing of a sample and acquisition of a high-precision SEM image of a processing surface of the sample in a short time, and a sample processing observation method using the same. The charged particle beam apparatus includes: a gallium ion beam column radiating a gallium ion beam toward a sample to form a cross-section of the sample; an electron beam column having a semi-in-lens type objective lens and radiating an electron beam toward the sample; a gas ion beam column radiating a gas ion beam toward the sample to perform finish processing of the cross-section of the sample, wherein the gas ion beam has a beam diameter larger than a maximum diameter of the cross-section of the sample.

Abstract: A portable information terminal is separated from a charged particle beam irradiation apparatus for performing processing of a sample by irradiating the sample with a charged particle beam. The portable information terminal performs operation of a first operation item at a desired position and includes a display controller causing a display unit to display an image containing a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of operating the first operation item based on operation by a user, the first operation item being one or more operation items among a plurality of items operable in the charged particle beam irradiation apparatus.

Abstract: To automatically repeat an operation of isolating a sample piece, which is formed by processing a sample with an ion beam, and transferring the sample piece to a sample piece holder, a charged particle beam device includes a computer configured to perform control so that, without rotating a needle with which the sample piece is fixed to the sample piece holder, a deposition film deposited on the needle is irradiated with a charged particle beam from a charged particle beam irradiation optical system.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing and observing a cross-section includes: a sample bed holding a sample; a focused ion beam column radiating a focused ion beam to the sample; an electron beam column radiating an electron beam to the sample, perpendicularly to the focused ion beam; an electron detector detecting secondary electrons or reflection electrons generated from the sample; a irradiation position controller controlling irradiation positions of the focused ion beam and the electron beam based on target irradiation position information showing target irradiation positions of beams on the sample; a process controller controlling a cross-section-exposing process that exposes a cross-section of the sample by radiating the focused ion beam to the sample and a cross-section image-obtaining process that obtains a cross-section image of the cross-section by radiating the electron beam to the cross-section; and an image quality corrector correcting image quality of the cross-section image obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are a charged particle beam apparatus wherein the charged particle beam apparatus can efficiently performs finish processing of a sample and acquisition of a high-precision SEM image of a processing surface of the sample in a short time, and a sample processing observation method using the same. The charged particle beam apparatus includes: a gallium ion beam column radiating a gallium ion beam toward a sample to form a cross-section of the sample; an electron beam column having a semi-in-lens type objective lens and radiating an electron beam toward the sample; a gas ion beam column radiating a gas ion beam toward the sample to perform finish processing of the cross-section of the sample, wherein the gas ion beam has a beam diameter larger than a maximum diameter of the cross-section of the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite beam apparatus capable of suppressing the influence of charge build-up, or electric field or magnetic field leakage from an electron beam column when subjecting a sample to cross-section processing with a focused ion beam and then performing finishing processing with another beam. The Composite beam apparatus includes: an electron beam column irradiating an electron beam onto a sample; a focused ion beam column irradiating a focused ion beam onto the sample to form a cross section; a neutral particle beam column having an acceleration voltage set lower than that of the focused ion beam column, and irradiating a neutral particle beam onto the sample to perform finish processing of the cross section, wherein the electron beam column, the focused ion beam column, and the neutral particle beam column are arranged such that the beams of the columns cross each other at an irradiation point.

Abstract: (Task) To repeatedly perform an operation of extracting a sample piece formed by processing a sample with an ion beam and of transferring the extracted sample piece to a sample piece holder. (Problem Solving Means) A charged particle beam apparatus includes a computer that sets a shaping processing region including a bottom portion of s ample piece in a thickness direction of the sample piece corresponding to a depth direction at the time of processing a sample after a needle holds the sample piece, and controls a focused ion beam irradiation optical system to irradiate the shaping processing region with a focused ion beam to thereby shape the sample piece.

Abstract: A charged particle beam includes: a computer that controls a needle actuating mechanism so as to approach a needle to a sample piece using a template formed from an absorbed current image obtained by irradiating the needle with a charged particle beam and a tip coordinate of the needle acquired from a secondary electron image obtained by irradiating the needle with the charged particle beam.

Abstract: A composite beam apparatus includes an electron beam column for irradiating an electron beam onto a sample, a focused ion beam column for irradiating a focused ion beam onto the sample to form a cross section, and a neutral particle beam column having an acceleration voltage set lower than that of the focused ion beam column for irradiating a neutral particle beam onto the sample to perform finish processing of the cross section. The electron beam column, the focused ion beam column, and the neutral particle beam column are arranged such that the beams of the columns cross each other at an irradiation point. A controller controls the electron beam column to irradiate and scan the electron beam on the sample during cross section processing by the focused ion beam column and during finish processing by the neutral particle beam column.