Abstract: A device for creating and placing a lamella comprises a focused ion beam, a scanning electron microscope, a stage for placing at least two specimens enabling tilting, rotation and movement of the specimen. The device further comprises a manipulator terminated by a needle for attaching and transporting the specimen. The manipulator is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tilt of the specimen, thereby enabling easy transportation and placing of the lamella into the specimen holder for a transmission electron microscope, so-called grid. The manipulator is adjusted to rotate the needle about its own axis. Thus, it enables inverting of the lamella and its polishing over a layer of semiconductor substrate, on which a semiconductor structure is formed, in case of creating the lamella from a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method of uniformly removing material from a sample surface includes the steps of sputtering by means of scanning the surface with a focused ion beam and a simultaneous observing of the sample during sputtering. Uniform sputtering of different materials is achieved by high-angle sputtering from multiple directions, wherein the directions are rotated relative to each other by a non-zero angle.

Abstract: A scanning transmission electron microscope is adapted to acquire high quality precession electron diffraction (PED) patterns by means of separated scanning deflectors and precession deflectors. Magnetic or electrostatic deflectors may be used for scanning and for precession. This enables independent optimization of parameters for each deflection system to achieve a broad operating range simultaneously for both deflection systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a specimen with two or more particle beams, wherein the specimen has a milled side that is processed by a first particle beam and observed by a second particle beam. The specimen is milled during a first milling operation by the first particle beam with the specimen in a first position. Thereafter, the specimen tilts in a second position around an axis of tilt of the specimen. Thereafter, the specimen is milled during a second milling operation. Milling can be performed during continuous tilting of the specimen around the axis of tilt. The axis of tilt of the specimen intersects the milled side. In all the aforementioned positions of the specimen, the second particle beam impinges on the milled side, which enables monitoring of the milling in real time.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a method of uniformly removing material from a sample surface by sputtering by means of scanning the surface with a focused ion beam and a simultaneous observing of the sample during sputtering. Uniform sputtering of different materials is achieved by high-angle sputtering from multiple directions, wherein the directions are rotated relative to each other by a non-zero angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a specimen with two or more particle beams, wherein the specimen has a milled side that is processed by a first particle beam and observed by a second particle beam. The specimen is milled during a first milling operation by the first particle beam with the specimen in a first position. Thereafter, the specimen tilts in a second position around an axis of tilt of the specimen. Thereafter, the specimen is milled during a second milling operation. Milling can be performed during continuous tilting of the specimen around the axis of tilt. The axis of tilt of the specimen intersects the milled side. In all the aforementioned positions of the specimen, the second particle beam impinges on the milled side, which enables monitoring of the milling in real time.

Abstract: The object of the present invention provides a scanning transmission electron microscope with the ability to formed at least one diffraction pattern. The scanning electron microscope comprises an electron source, which is configured to provide primary electron beam, a condenser lens system, an objective electromagnetic system, a projection lens system and a detection system, in addition, the objective electromagnetic lens consists of an upper pole piece and a lower pole piece, wherein each pole piece comprises a pole piece face, which is a flat surface oriented towards a sample plane. A salient feature of the present invention is to form at least one diffraction pattern located in the distance from the lower pole piece face outside the pole piece gap, wherein the pole piece gap is the space between the upper pole piece face and the lower pole piece face.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a specimen with two or more particle beams, wherein the specimen has a milled side that is processed by a first particle beam and observed by a second particle beam. The specimen is milled during a first milling operation by the first particle beam with the specimen in a first position. Thereafter, the specimen tilts in a second position around an axis of tilt of the specimen. Thereafter, the specimen is milled during a second milling operation. Milling can be performed during continuous tilting of the specimen around the axis of tilt. The axis of tilt of the specimen intersects the milled side. In all the aforementioned positions of the specimen, the second particle beam impinges on the milled side, which enables monitoring of the milling in real time.

Abstract: A method for reducing or removing organic and/or inorganic contamination from a vacuum system of imaging and analytical devices, wherein at least a portion of the area of the inner surface of the vacuum space of the vacuum system is provided with a photocatalytic layer, at least a portion of this photocatalytic layer being cooled to a temperature in the range of 0 K to 280 K, whereby the photocatalytic layer is afterwards at least partially irradiated by electromagnetic radiation, which activates a photocatalytic reaction of the photocatalytic layer with the adsorbed gases of the atmosphere of the inner vacuum space of the vacuum system, where this reaction decomposes the contaminants, reducing their concentration and/or the concentration of water in the inner vacuum space of the vacuum system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a specimen with two or more particle beams, wherein the specimen has a milled side that is processed by a first particle beam and observed by a second particle beam. The specimen is milled during a first milling operation by the first particle beam with the specimen in a first position. Thereafter, the specimen tilts in a second position around an axis of tilt of the specimen. Thereafter, the specimen is milled during a second milling operation. Milling can be performed during continuous tilting of the specimen around the axis of tilt. The axis of tilt of the specimen intersects the milled side. In all the aforementioned positions of the specimen, the second particle beam impinges on the milled side, which enables monitoring of the milling in real time.

Abstract: A system uses number of analytical devices such as an electron microscope a Raman microscope, an ion beam column and a scanning probe microscope for sample analysis concurrent, consecutive or with the mutual correlation of the analysis performed by the different devices in the same sample area using the connection of the Raman microscope optical objective lens and objective manipulator, that significantly reduces time needed for analyzing by Raman microscope together with other devices and maintains high quality of the sensed signals comparable to stand alone analytical devices.

Abstract: A scintillation detection unit for the detection of back-scattered electrons for electron and ion microscopes, in which the scintillation detection unit consists of body and at least one system for processing the light signal, where the body is at least partly made of scintillation material and is at least partly situated in a column of an electron or ion microscope and is made up of at least one hollow part. The height of the body of scintillation detection unit measured in the direction of longitudinal axis is greater than one-and-a-half times the greatest width measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow part with the greatest width. The walls of the hollow parts are vacuum-sealed in the areas outside bottom holes and top holes and make up part of a vacuum-sealed jacket which is passed through by the primary beam of electrons.