Abstract: 3D (three-dimensional) ink-jet printing includes techniques for evaporating a carrier liquid during printing while at least a portion of dispersant remains in the printed layer; evaporating dispersant in a first layer prior to sintering the first layer and/or prior to printing a second layer; leveling an upper-layer of a printed object using a horizontal roller; and printing layers of an object, each layer with both object and support portions, resulting in an object with support, in particular, support for negative angles and molds.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and system for calibrating a tilt angle of an electron beam of a backscattered scanning electron microscope including scanning a bare wafer at a plurality of electron beam tilt and azimuth angles, thereby obtaining a calibration map representing a crystal orientation of the bare wafer, selecting a tilt angle and defining an expected diffraction pattern associated with the tilt angle, based on the calibration map; scanning a patterned wafer at the selected tilt angle, comparing the diffraction pattern of the image obtained from the scanning of the patterned wafer at the selected tilt angle with the expected diffraction pattern; correcting the tilt angle of the electron beam of the BSEM tool, such that the diffraction pattern of the image obtained during scanning of the patterned wafer will align with the expected diffraction pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for non-destructive tomography of specimens. The system includes a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a processor(s). The SEM is configured to obtain a sinogram of a tested specimen, parameterized by a vector {right arrow over (s)}, by projecting e-beams on the tested specimen, at each of a plurality of projection directions and offsets, and. for each e-beam, measuring a respective intensity of electrons returned from the tested specimen, The processor(s) is configured to obtain a tomographic map, pertaining to the tested specimen, by determining values indicative of components of a vector {right arrow over (t)} defined by an equation W{right arrow over (t)}={right arrow over (s)}. W is a matrix with components wij specifying a contribution of a j-th voxel in a nominal specimen to an i-th element of a nominal sinogram of the nominal specimen. The matrix W accounts for e-beam expansion and attenuation with depth within the nominal specimen.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of measuring a lateral recess in a semiconductor specimen, comprising: obtaining a first image acquired by collecting SEs emitted from the surface of the specimen, and a second image acquired by collecting BSEs scattered from an interior region of the specimen between the surface and a target second layer, the specimen scanned using an electron beam with a landing energy selected to penetrate to a depth corresponding to the target second layer; generating a first GL waveform based on the first image, and a second GL waveform based on the second image; estimating a first width of the first layers based on the first GL waveform, and a second width with respect to at least the target second layer based on the second GL; and measuring a lateral recess based on the first width and the second width.

Abstract: A reactive particles supply system that may include an adjustable gas supply unit that is arranged to supply gas and to set a gas condition, a reactive particles supply unit that may be arranged to receive the gas, and an adjustable reactive particles output unit that may include a reactive particles input, a second reactive particles output, and a reactive particles path. The second reactive particles output is configured to output reactive particles towards an opening of a vacuumed chamber. The adjustable reactive particles output unit is arranged to mechanically configure at least one element of the reactive particles path according to the reactive particles condition.

Abstract: A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a device. The method may include (a) introducing a voltage difference between an absolute value of a negative pole of the electrostatic chuck and an absolute value of a positive pole of the electrostatic chuck, the introducing occurs while the wafer is supported by the electrostatic chuck and is contacted by one or more conductive contact pins of the electrostatic chuck; (b) monitoring, by an electrostatic sensor that comprises a sensing element, a charge at a point of measurement located at a front side of the wafer, at different points of time that follow a start of the introducing of the voltage difference, to provide monitoring results; and (c) determining an electrical parameter of the contact between the wafer and the electrostatic chuck, based on the monitoring results.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of measuring a lateral recess in a semiconductor specimen, comprising: obtaining a first image acquired by collecting SEs emitted from the surface of the specimen, and a second image acquired by collecting BSEs scattered from an interior region of the specimen between the surface and a target second layer, the specimen scanned using an electron beam with a landing energy selected to penetrate to a depth corresponding to the target second layer; generating a first GL waveform based on the first image, and a second GL waveform based on the second image; estimating a first width of the first layers based on the first GL waveform, and a second width with respect to at least the target second layer based on the second GL; and measuring a lateral recess based on the first width and the second width.

Abstract: A reactive particles supply system that may include an adjustable gas supply unit that is arranged to supply gas and to set a gas condition, a reactive particles supply unit that may be arranged to receive the gas, and an adjustable reactive particles output unit that may include a reactive particles input, a second reactive particles output, and a reactive particles path. The second reactive particles output is configured to output reactive particles towards an opening of a vacuumed chamber. The adjustable reactive particles output unit is arranged to mechanically configure at least one element of the reactive particles path according to the reactive particles condition.

Abstract: A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a device. The method may include (a) introducing a voltage difference between an absolute value of a negative pole of the electrostatic chuck and an absolute value of a positive pole of the electrostatic chuck, the introducing occurs while the wafer is supported by the electrostatic chuck and is contacted by one or more conductive contact pins of the electrostatic chuck; (b) monitoring, by an electrostatic sensor that comprises a sensing element, a charge at a point of measurement located at a front side of the wafer, at different points of time that follow a start of the introducing of the voltage difference, to provide monitoring results; and (c) determining an electrical parameter of the contact between the wafer and the electrostatic chuck, based on the monitoring results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for electron detection emitted from an object to be used with a charged particle beam column being operated at a certain column and wafer voltage. The sensor is configured and operable to at least reduce interaction of negative ions with the active area of the sensor while minimizing electrons energy loss. The sensor is also configured and operable to minimize both gradual degradation of a cathodoluminescence efficiency of the active area and dynamic change of cathodoluminescence generated during operation of the sensor and evolving throughout the scintillator's lifetime.

Abstract: A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a three-dimensional evaluation system for providing three dimensional information regarding structural elements of a specimen. The method can include illuminating the structural elements with electron beams of different incidence angles, where the electron beams pass through the structural elements and the structural elements are of nanometric dimensions; detecting forward scattered electrons that are scattered from the structural elements to provide detected forward scattered electrons; and generating the three dimensional information regarding structural elements based at least on the detected forward scattered electrons.

Abstract: A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.

Abstract: A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a three-dimensional evaluation system for providing three dimensional information regarding structural elements of a specimen. The method can include illuminating the structural elements with electron beams of different incidence angles, where the electron beams pass through the structural elements and the structural elements are of nanometric dimensions; detecting forward scattered electrons that are scattered from the structural elements to provide detected forward scattered electrons; and generating the three dimensional information regarding structural elements based at least on the detected forward scattered electrons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for electron detection emitted from an object to be used with a charged particle beam column being operated at a certain column and wafer voltage. The sensor is configured and operable to at least reduce interaction of negative ions with the active area of the sensor while minimizing electrons energy loss. The sensor is also configured and operable to minimize both gradual degradation of a cathodoluminescence efficiency of the active area and dynamic change of cathodoluminescence generated during operation of the sensor and evolving throughout the scintillator's lifetime.

Abstract: A cleanliness monitor, an evaluation system and a method. The cleanliness monitor may include: a first vacuum chamber, a second vacuum chamber, a molecule collector, a release unit, a mass spectrometer, a manipulator that may be configured to move the molecule collector from the first position to the second position, and an analyzer. The mass spectrometer may have a line of sight to an inner space of the second vacuum chamber. The mass spectrometer may be configured to monitor the inner space of the second vacuum chamber and to generate detection signals that are indicative of a content of the inner space of the second vacuum chamber. A first subset of the detection signals may be indicative of a presence of the at least subset of released organic molecules. The analyzer may be configured to determine, based on the detection signals, the cleanliness of at least one out of (a) the first vacuum chamber, and (b) a tested vacuum chamber. The tested vacuum chamber is fluidly coupled to the first vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.

Abstract: A cleanliness monitor for monitoring a cleanliness of a vacuum chamber. The cleanliness monitor may include a mass spectrometer, a molecule aggregation and release unit and an analyzer. The molecule aggregation and release unit is configured to (a) aggregate, during an aggregation period, organic molecules that are present in the vacuum chamber and (b) induce, during a release period, a release of a subset of the organic molecules towards the mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer is configured to monitor an environment within the vacuum chamber and to generate detection signals indicative of a content of the environment; wherein a first subset of the detection signals is indicative of a presence of the subset of the organic molecules. The analyzer is configured to determine the cleanliness of the vacuum chamber based on the detection signals.

Abstract: A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.

Abstract: A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.

Abstract: A computer program product and a method for dissipation of an electrical charge stored in a region of an object. The method may include (a) sensing, by at least one sensor, an electrical charging status of the region of the object, while the object is located within a vacuum chamber and while a gaseous pressure within the vacuum chamber is below a certain vacuum pressure threshold; and (b) performing, based on the charging status of the given region, an electrical charge dissipation process that comprises increasing the gaseous pressure within the vacuum chamber to be within a given gaseous pressure range that facilitates a dissipation, by breakdown, of the electrical charge stored in the region of the object to the vacuum chamber.