Abstract: A particle beam system includes a particle beam source for generating a particle beam, a high voltage source, a beam blanker system with deflection plates 56, 57, and a control circuit. The control circuit provides a first current path 67 between the two deflection plates, wherein a switch 70, a node 72 connected to the high voltage source and a switch 76 are arranged in this order in the first current path starting from the deflection plate 56. The control circuit provides a second current path 85 between the deflection plate 56 and the deflection plate 57, wherein in the second current path, starting from the deflection plate 56, a series connection 88 comprising a voltage source 91 a switch 90, a node 86 connected to the high voltage source and a series connection 92 comprising a voltage source 95 and a switch 94 are arranged in this order.

Abstract: A particle beam system comprises a particle beam source 5 for generating a primary particle beam 13, an objective lens 19 for focusing the primary particle beam 13 in an object plane 23; a particle detector 17; and an X-ray detector 47 arranged between the objective lens and the object plane. The X-ray detector comprises plural semiconductor detectors, each having a detection surface 51 oriented towards the object plane. A membrane is disposed between the object plane and the detection surface of the semiconductor detector, wherein different semiconductor detectors have different membranes located in front, the different membranes differing with respect to a secondary electron transmittance.

Abstract: A device and method for analyzing a sample, in particular a sample which contains low-density materials, is provided. Ions of a predefined mass and/or a predefined elementary charge are selected from a plurality of ions. The selected ions are directed onto the sample for sample preparation. An electron beam is then directed onto the prepared sample and a spatial distribution of scattered electrons is measured.

Abstract: A particle optical apparatus has a particle source for generating at least one beam of charged particles, and a magnet arrangement having two pole plates, which are arranged spaced apart from one another, such that the at least one beam of charged particles in operation passes through the pole plates, wherein trenches are provided in the pole plates, in which trenches coil wires are arranged. The trenches, when viewed in a cross section transverse to an extension direction of the trenches, have a smaller width in a region of a surface of the pole plates, than in a region arranged at a distance from the surface.

Abstract: A method for binarizing a digital gray value image includes generating a binary edge image from the gray value image so as to cause existing edges to be determined as line areas around an edge; and, thereafter, computing a mean value of gray values of the gray value image in all regions which correspond to the line areas around an edge of the binary edge image with the mean value defining a threshold value for the generation of a binarized gray value image.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an object with miniaturized structures. The method involves processing the object by supplying reaction gas during concurrent directing an electron beam onto a location to be processed, to deposit material or ablate material; and inspecting the object by scanning the surface of the object with an electron beam and leading generated backscattered electrons and secondary electrons to an energy selector, reflecting the secondary electrons from the energy selector, detecting the backscattered electrons passing the energy selector and generating an electron to microscopic image of the scanned region in dependence on the detected backscattered electrons; and examining the generated electron microscopic image and deciding whether further depositing or ablating of material should be carried out. The disclosure also relates to an electron microscope and a processing system which are adapted for performing the method.

Abstract: A transmission electron microscope in which a sample is positioned in a sample plane 9b comprises an objective lens 11b, a first projection lens system 61b having plural lenses, a second projection lens 63b system having plural lenses, and an analyzing system. The sample plane 9b is imaged into an intermediate image plane 71, a diffraction plane 15b of the objective lens 11b is imaged into an intermediate diffraction plane 67b, and either a) the intermediate image plane is imaged into an entrance image plane of the analyzing system and the intermediate diffraction plane is imaged into an entrance pupil plane of the analyzing system, or b) the intermediate image plane 71 is imaged into the entrance pupil plane 65b and the intermediate diffraction plane 67b is imaged into the entrance image plane 21b.

Abstract: A processing system comprises a gas supply apparatus with which process gas is supplied to an object. An activation beam activates the gas thereby inducing a chemical reaction between material at the surface of the object and the process gas causing ablation of material from the surface or deposition of material at the surface. The gas supply apparatus is formed from a stack of plates providing a gas conduit system between at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet.

Abstract: A processing system includes a common base, an object mount configured to hold an object for inspection or processing, and at least one aperture plate provided on the object mount. The aperture plate has at least one aperture The processing system also includes a laser device mounted on the common base and configured to scan a laser beam across a scan region, and a transport device configured to displace the object mount relative to the common base from a first position to a second position. When the object mount is in the first position, the object and the at least one aperture are positioned within the scan region of the laser device. The processing system also includes at least one light guide provided on the object mount. The light guide has an input port provided by the at least one aperture, and an output port.

Abstract: An SACP method includes directing a beam of charged particles onto an object surface of an object using a particle optical system, and detecting intensities of particles emanating from the object. The method further includes: (a1) adjusting an excitation of the second beam deflector for adjusting an impingement location of the beam on the object surface; (a2) adjusting an excitation of the first beam deflector for adjusting an angle of incidence of the beam on the object surface without changing the impingement location and detecting the intensity; and (a3) repeating the adjusting of the excitation of the first beam deflector for adjusting the angle of incidence without changing the impingement location such that a corresponding intensity is detected for each of at least 100 different angles of incidence at the same impingement location.

Abstract: A system and a method for processing and inspecting an object are provided, wherein the system comprises a particle beam column, an object holder and a gas supply apparatus. Thereby, the object holder is formed comprising a base, a first table displaceable relative to the base, a second table displaceable relative to the first table and a third table rotatable relative to the second table, wherein the cannula of the gas supply apparatus is fixed at the first table.

Abstract: An electron-beam device having a beam generator for generating an electron beam, an objective lens for focusing the electron beam on an object, and at least one detector for detecting electrons scattered on the object or emitted by the object. Furthermore, a detector system for detecting electrons is described. With an electron-beam device having a detector system according to the present invention, it is possible to make a selection in a simple manner, in particular according to backscattered and secondary electrons. At the same time, as many electrons as possible may be detected using the detector system. For this purpose, the electron-beam device exhibits at least one adjustable diaphragm which is allocated to the detector. The detector system exhibits a detector on which a reflector for reflecting electrons onto the detector is accommodated.

Abstract: A phase-shifting element for shifting a phase of at least a portion of a particle beam is described, as well as a article beam device having a phase-shifting element of this type. In the phase-shifting element and the particle beam device having a phase-shifting element, components shadowing the particle beam are avoided, so that proper information content is achieved and in which the phase contrast is essentially spatial frequency-independent. The phase-shifting element may have at least one means for generating a non-homogeneous or anisotropic potential. The particle beam device according to the system described herein may be provided with the phase-shifting element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a focusing and positioning ancillary device for a particle-optical scanning microscope, a particle-optical scanning microscope including a corresponding positioning aid, and a method for focusing and positioning an object in a particle-optical scanning microscope. The focusing and positioning ancillary device includes an illuminating device, a camera, a display and a control unit. The illuminating device produces a collimated or focused light beam at an angle to the particle-optical beam axis which intersects the particle-optical beam axis at a predetermined position. The camera is sensitive to the wavelength of the light beam and records an image of the object, which is positioned on the object table, at a second angle to the particle-optical beam axis. The control unit produces an image captured by the camera on the display together with a marking which indicates the position of the particle-optical beam axis in the image.

Abstract: A material processing system for processing a work piece is provided. The material processing is effected by supplying a reactive gas and energetic radiation for activation of the reactive gas to a surrounding of a location of the work piece to be processed. The radiation is preferably provided by an electron microscope. An objective lens of the electron microscope is preferably disposed between a detector of the electron microscope and the work piece. A gas supply arrangement of the material processing system comprises a valve disposed spaced apart from the processing location, a gas volume between the valve and a location of emergence of the reaction gas being small. The gas supply arrangement further comprises a temperature-adjusted, especially cooled reservoir for accommodating a starting material for the reactive gas.

Abstract: A charged particle beam column includes a charged particle beam source to generate a charged particle beam; an objective lens to focus the charged particle beam in an object plane; a first condenser lens disposed in a beam path of the charged particle beam between the charged particle beam source and the objective lens; a deflector disposed in the beam path between the first condenser lens and the objective lens and configured to change an angle of incidence of the charged particle beam in an object plane; and an aberration corrector disposed in the beam path between the deflector and the objective lens and configured to compensate aberrations introduced by the objective lens. The aberration corrector is also configured to not compensate aberrations introduced by the first condenser lens.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed that include exposing, in direct succession, portions of a surface of a sample to a charged particle beam, the portions of the surface of the sample forming a row in a first direction, the charged particle beam having an average spot size fat the surface of the sample, each portion being spaced from its neighboring portions by a distance of at least din the first direction, and a ratio d/f being 2 or more.

Abstract: A particle beam microscope includes an illumination system generating a particle beam having a ring-shaped conical configuration. A selective detection system is configured to selectively detect one of two groups of particles having traversed the object region. The first group of particles includes the particles that traversed the object region un-scattered or scattered by a small scattering amount. The second group of particles includes particles scattered in the object region by a greater scattering amount.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are for three-dimensional tomographic image generation in a scanning electron microscope system. At least two longitudinal marks are provided on the top surface of the sample which include an angle therebetween. In consecutive image recordings, the positions of these marks are determined and are used to quantify the slice thickness removed between consecutive image recordings.

Abstract: A particle optical apparatus has a particle source for generating at least one beam of charged particles, and a magnet arrangement having two pole plates, which are arranged spaced apart from one another, such that the at least one beam of charged particles in operation passes through the pole plates, wherein trenches are provided in the pole plates, in which trenches coil wires are arranged. The trenches, when viewed in a cross section transverse to an extension direction of the trenches, have a smaller width in a region of a surface of the pole plates, than in a region arranged at a distance from the surface.