Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using charged-particle microscopy, and a charged particle microscope configured for same.

Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using charged-particle microscopy, comprising the following steps: (a) On a surface of the specimen, selecting a virtual sampling grid extending in an XY plane and comprising grid nodes to be impinged upon by a charged-particle probing beam during a two-dimensional scan of said surface; (b) Selecting a landing energy Ei for said probing beam, with an associated nominal Z penetration depth di below said surface; (c) At each of said nodes, irradiating the specimen with said probing beam and detecting output radiation emanating from the specimen in response thereto, thereby generating a scan image Ii; (d) Repeating steps (b) and (c) for a series {Ei} of different landing energies, corresponding to an associated series {di} of different penetration depths, further comprising the following steps: (e) Pre-selecting an initial energy increment ?Ei by which Ei is to be altered after a first iteration of steps (b) and (c); (f) Associating energy increment ?Ei with a correspon