Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a charged particle source module for generating and emitting a charged particle beam, such as an electron beam, comprising: a frame including a first frame part, a second frame part, and one or more rigid support members which are arranged between said first frame part and said second frame part; a charged particle source arrangement for generating a charged particle beam, such as an electron beam, wherein said charged particle source arrangement, such as an electron source, is arranged at said second frame part; and a power connecting assembly arranged at said first frame part, wherein said charged particle source arrangement is electrically connected to said connecting assembly via electrical wiring.

Abstract: A manipulator for manipulating a charged particle beam in a projection system, the manipulator comprising a substrate having opposing major surfaces in each of which is defined an aperture and a through-passage having an interconnecting surface extending between the apertures; wherein the interconnecting surface comprises one or more electrodes; the manipulator further comprising a potential divider comprising two or more resistive elements connected in series, the potential divider comprising an intermediate node between each pair of adjacent resistive elements, wherein at least one resistive element is formed within the substrate so as to extend between the opposing major surfaces; wherein the intermediate node is electrically connected to at least one of the one or more electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a substrate stack comprising a plurality of substrates, wherein: each substrate in the substrate stack comprises at least one alignment opening set; the at least one alignment opening set in each substrate is aligned for a light beam to pass through corresponding alignment openings in each substrate; and each substrate comprises at least one alignment opening that has a smaller diameter than the corresponding alignment openings in the other substrates.

Abstract: A flood column for charged particle flooding of a sample, the flood column comprising a charged particle source configured to emit a charged particle beam along a beam path; a source lens arranged down-beam of the charged particle source; a condenser lens arranged down-beam of the source lens; and an aperture body arranged down-beam of the condenser lens, wherein the aperture body is for passing a portion of the charged particle beam; and wherein the source lens is controllable so as to variably set the beam angle of the charged particle beam down-beam of the source lens.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a charged particle source module for generating and emitting a charged particle beam, such as an electron beam, comprising: a frame including a first frame part, a second frame part, and one or more rigid support members which are arranged between said first frame part and said second frame part; a charged particle source arrangement for generating a charged particle beam, such as an electron beam, wherein said charged particle source arrangement, such as an electron source, is arranged at said second frame part; and a power connecting assembly arranged at said first frame part, wherein said charged particle source arrangement is electrically connected to said connecting assembly via electrical wiring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a thermionic cathode comprising an emission portion provided with an emission surface for emitting electrons, and a reservoir for holding a material, wherein the material, when heated, releases work function lowering particles that diffuse towards the emission portion and emanate at the emission surface at a first evaporation rate; a focusing electrode comprising a focusing surface for focusing the electrons emitted from the emission surface of the cathode; and an adjustable heat source configured for keeping the focusing surface at a temperature at which accumulation of work function lowering particles on the focusing surface is prevented.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a charged particle source module for generating and emitting a charged particle beam, such as an electron beam, comprising: a frame including a first frame part, a second frame part, and one or more rigid support members which are arranged between said first frame part and said second frame part; a charged particle source arrangement for generating a charged particle beam, such as an electron beam, wherein said charged particle source arrangement, such as an electron source, is arranged at said second frame part; and a power connecting assembly arranged at said first frame part, wherein said charged particle source arrangement is electrically connected to said connecting assembly via electrical wiring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a thermionic cathode comprising an emission portion provided with an emission surface for emitting electrons, and a reservoir for holding a material, wherein the material, when heated, releases work function lowering particles that diffuse towards the emission portion and emanate at the emission surface at a first evaporation rate; a focusing electrode comprising a focusing surface for focusing the electrons emitted from the emission surface of the cathode; and an adjustable heat source configured for keeping the focusing surface at a temperature at which accumulation of work function lowering particles on the focusing surface is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a cathode body housing an emission surface for emitting electrons in a longitudinal direction, wherein the emission surface is bounded by an emission perimeter; a focusing electrode at least partially enclosing the cathode body in a transversal direction and comprising an electron transmission aperture for focusing the electrons emitted by the emission surface, wherein the aperture is bounded by an aperture perimeter, wherein the cathode body is moveably arranged within the focusing electrode over a maximum transversal distance from an aligned position, and wherein the aperture perimeter transversally extends over the emission surface and beyond the emission perimeter over an overlap distance that exceeds the maximum transversal distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a thermionic cathode comprising an emission portion provided with an emission surface for emitting electrons, and a reservoir for holding a material, wherein the material, when heated, releases work function lowering particles that diffuse towards the emission portion and emanate at the emission surface at a first evaporation rate; a focusing electrode comprising a focusing surface for focusing the electrons emitted from the emission surface of the cathode; and an adjustable heat source configured for keeping the focusing surface at a temperature at which accumulation of work function lowering particles on the focusing surface is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a cathode body housing an emission surface for emitting electrons in a longitudinal direction, wherein the emission surface is bounded by an emission perimeter; a focusing electrode at least partially enclosing the cathode body in a transversal direction and comprising an electron transmission aperture for focusing the electrons emitted by the emission surface, wherein the aperture is bounded by an aperture perimeter, wherein the cathode body is moveably arranged within the focusing electrode over a maximum transversal distance from an aligned position, and wherein the aperture perimeter transversally extends over the emission surface and beyond the emission perimeter over an overlap distance that exceeds the maximum transversal distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a thermionic cathode comprising an emission portion provided with an emission surface for emitting electrons, and a reservoir for holding a material, wherein the material, when heated, releases work function lowering particles that diffuse towards the emission portion and emanate at the emission surface at a first evaporation rate; a focusing electrode comprising a focusing surface for focusing the electrons emitted from the emission surface of the cathode; and an adjustable heat source configured for keeping the focusing surface at a temperature at which accumulation of work function lowering particles on the focusing surface is prevented.

Abstract: A charged particle lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target, comprising a source for generating a charged particle beam, a first chamber housing the source, a collimating system for collimating the charged particle beam, a second chamber housing the collimating system, and a first aperture array element for generating a plurality of charged particle subbeams from the collimated charged particle beam.

Abstract: A charged particle lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target, comprising a source for generating a charged particle beam, a first chamber housing the source, a collimating system for collimating the charged particle beam, a second chamber housing the collimating system, and a first aperture array element for generating a plurality of charged particle subbeams from the collimated charged particle beam.

Abstract: A charged particle lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target, comprising a main vacuum chamber, a source chamber and an intermediate chamber, both located in the main vacuum chamber, a beam generator for generating a charged particle beam, the beam generator located in the source chamber, and a first aperture array element for generating a plurality of charged particle beamlets from the beam, the first aperture array element located in the intermediate chamber. The system is adapted for maintaining a first pressure in the main vacuum chamber, a second pressure in the intermediate chamber, and a third pressure in the source chamber, and wherein the first pressure is lower than an ambient pressure, the second pressure is lower than the first pressure, and the third pressure is lower than the second pressure.

Abstract: A charged particle lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target, comprising a main vacuum chamber, a source chamber and an intermediate chamber, both located in the main vacuum chamber, a beam generator for generating a charged particle beam, the beam generator located in the source chamber, and a first aperture array element for generating a plurality of charged particle beamlets from the beam, the first aperture array element located in the intermediate chamber. The system is adapted for maintaining a first pressure in the main vacuum chamber, a second pressure in the intermediate chamber, and a third pressure in the source chamber, and wherein the first pressure is lower than an ambient pressure, the second pressure is lower than the first pressure, and the third pressure is lower than the second pressure.