Abstract: An improved electron beam manipulator for manipulating an electron beam in an electron projection system and a method for manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The electron beam manipulator comprises a body having a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface and an interconnecting surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and forming an aperture through the body. The body comprises an electrode forming at least part of the interconnecting surface between the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electron-optical stack for manipulating one or more charged particle beams and associated apparatus and methods. In one arrangement, a plurality of electron-optical plates have major surfaces on opposite sides of the plates. The plates define a set of channels configured to be aligned along a beam path of a charged particle beam to allow the charged particle beam to pass through the plates via the channels. Each channel defines apertures in the two major surfaces of the plate that defines the channel. The apertures have different shapes from each other. The plates are oriented such that the apertures comprise one or more matching aperture pairs along the beam path. The or each matching aperture pair consists of apertures having the same shape defined in adjacent major surfaces of adjacent plates.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electron-optical assembly for an electron-optical column for projecting a charged particle beam along a beam path towards a target, the electron-optical assembly comprising: electromagnetic shielding surrounding the charged particle beam path and configured to shield the charged particle beam from an electromagnetic field external to the electromagnetic shielding; wherein the electromagnetic shielding comprises a plurality of sections extending along different positions along the beam path, each section surrounding the charged particle beam, wherein the sections are separable.

Abstract: An improved electron beam manipulator for manipulating an electron beam in an electron projection system and a method for manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The electron beam manipulator comprises a body having a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface and an interconnecting surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and forming an aperture through the body. The body comprises an electrode forming at least part of the interconnecting surface between the first surface and the second surface.