Abstract: A method of examining a sample using a charged particle microscope is provided comprising scanning a charged particle beam over an area of the sample, detecting spectral emissions from the sample in response to scanning of the charged particle beam, and identifying a first plurality of substantially similar spectral emissions. A first chemical element is determined that is associated with the substantially similar spectral emissions. A first base spectral number value associated with said first chemical element is provided that is related to the number of similar spectral emissions that are required for confidently determining said first chemical element. The first base spectral number value is used for dividing at least a part of the scanned area of the sample into a first number of segments. The method includes providing a graphical representation of the sample, wherein said graphical representation includes said first chemical element and corresponding segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for compensating interference in a charged particle beam microscopy system. A step of capturing data obtained from irradiation of a sample for a sampling duration can be implemented. In the system a respective data storage is provided for capturing and/or storing this data. Further steps of dividing at least representative parts of the sampling duration into time-windows and constructing, for each of the time-windows, an intermediate image, can be implemented. Detecting shift between the intermediate images and determining a compensation function for the shift between the intermediate images is realized as well. In a system the latter steps are automated by a respective processing component. The shift between intermediate images can be a two-dimensional shift and the compensation function represents a shift of the intermediate images in the two dimensions over time.

Abstract: Responsive to irradiation of a charged particle beam, emission from sample is acquired in the form of spectral data. The spectral data is decomposed by a machine learning estimator to abundances and spectral components based on a character of the detector. Images showing compositional information of the sample are generated based on the abundances and the spectral components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, examining a sample using a charged particle beam apparatus. The method as defined herein comprises the step of detecting, using a first detector, emissions of a first type from the sample in response to the charged particle beam illuminating the sample. The method further comprises the step of acquiring spectral information on emissions of a second type from the sample in response to the charged particle beam illuminating the sample. As defined herein, said step of acquiring spectral information comprises the steps of providing a spectral information prediction algorithm and using said algorithm for predicting said spectral information based on detected emissions of the first type as an input parameter of said algorithm. With this it is possible to gather EDS data using only a BSE detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of examining a sample using a charged particle microscope, comprising the steps of providing a charged particle beam, as well as a sample; scanning said charged particle beam over said sample; and detecting, using a first detector, emissions of a first type from the sample in response to the beam scanned over the sample. Spectral information of detected emissions of the first type is used for assigning a plurality of mutually different phases to said sample. In a further step, a corresponding plurality of different color hues—with reference to an HSV color space—are associated to said plurality of mutually different phases. Using a second detector, emissions of a second type from the sample in response to the beam scanned over the sample are detected. Finally an image representation of said sample is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of examining a sample using a charged particle microscope, comprising the steps of providing a charged particle beam, as well as a sample; scanning said charged particle beam over said sample at a plurality of sample locations; and detecting, using a first detector, emissions of a first type from the sample in response to the beam scanned over the plurality of sample locations. Spectral information of detected emissions of the first type is used to assign a plurality of mutually different phases to said sample at said plurality of sample locations. Information relating to at least one previously assigned phase and its respective sample location is used for establishing an estimated phase for at least one other of the plurality of sample locations. Said estimated phase is assigned to said other sample location. A control unit is used to provide a data representation of said sample containing at least information on said plurality of sample locations and said phases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of examining a sample using a charged particle microscope, comprising the steps of providing a charged particle beam, as well as a sample, and scanning said charged particle beam over at least part of said sample. A first detector is used for obtaining measured detector signals corresponding to emissions of a first type from the sample at a plurality of sample positions. According to the method, a set of data class elements is provided, wherein each data class element relates an expected detector signal to a corresponding sample information value. The measured detector signals are processed, and processing comprises comparing said measured detector signals to said set of data class elements; determining at least one probability that said measured detector signals belong to a certain one of said set of data class elements; and assigning at least one sample information value and said at least one probability to each of the plurality of sample positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of examining a sample using a charged particle microscope, comprising the steps of providing a charged particle beam, as well as a sample, and scanning said charged particle beam over said sample. A first detector is used for detecting emissions of a first type from the sample in response to the beam scanned over the sample. Using spectral information of detected emissions of the first type, a plurality of mutually different phases are assigned to said sample. An image representation of said sample is provided, wherein said image representation contains different color hues. The color hues are selected from a pre-selected range of consecutive color hues in such a way that the selected color hues comprise mutually corresponding intervals within said pre-selected range of consecutive color hues.