Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to reduce drift of a sample and/or its image in a microscopy system, wherein the method comprises determining an expected thermal drift of the sample, and compensating for the drift of the sample and/or its image based upon the expected thermal drift. The present invention also relates to a corresponding microscopy system and a computer program product to perform the method according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging a sample, said sample mounted on a sample holder in an electron microscope, the electron microscope comprising an electron source for generating a beam of energetic electrons along an optical axis and optical elements for focusing and deflecting the beam so as to irradiate the sample with a beam of electrons. The sample holder is capable of positioning and tilting the sample with respect to the electron beam. The method comprises the step of acquiring a tilt series of images by irradiating the sample with the beam of electrons, and concurrently changing a position of the sample during acquisition of the images, so that each image is acquired at an associated unique tilt angle and an associated unique position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging a sample, said sample mounted on a sample holder in an electron microscope, the electron microscope comprising an electron source for generating a beam of energetic electrons along an optical axis and optical elements for focusing and deflecting the beam so as to irradiate the sample with a beam of electrons. The sample holder is capable of positioning and tilting the sample with respect to the electron beam. The method comprises the step of acquiring a tilt series of images by irradiating the sample with the beam of electrons, and concurrently changing a position of the sample during acquisition of the images, so that each image is acquired at an associated unique tilt angle and an associated unique position.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a Scanning Transmission Charged-Particle Microscope, operable in a non-scanning mode, whereby said beam is relatively broad, and a scanning mode, whereby said beam is relatively narrow and an image is formed as a function of scan position of said beam, the method comprising: providing a calibration specimen on said specimen holder; in non-scanning mode, using said detector to form a calibration image of the calibration specimen, using a given configuration of said imaging system; utilizing a known dimension of said calibration specimen and comparing it to a corresponding dimension in said calibration image to calibrate a characteristic dimension of a field of view of said detector; and, in scanning mode, recording a beam pattern of said beam in the calibrated field of view of said detector, and examining the recorded beam pattern to derive a geometric aspect thereof.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a Scanning Transmission Charged-Particle Microscope, operable in a non-scanning mode, whereby said beam is relatively broad, and a scanning mode, whereby said beam is relatively narrow and an image is formed as a function of scan position of said beam, the method comprising: providing a calibration specimen on said specimen holder; in non-scanning mode, using said detector to form a calibration image of the calibration specimen, using a given configuration of said imaging system; utilizing a known dimension of said calibration specimen and comparing it to a corresponding dimension in said calibration image to calibrate a characteristic dimension of a field of view of said detector; and in scanning mode, recording a beam pattern of said beam in the calibrated field of view of said detector, and examining the recorded beam pattern to derive a geometric aspect thereof.

Abstract: A method of determining the temperature of a sample carrier in a charged particle-optical apparatus, characterized in that the method comprises the observation of the sample carrier with a beam of charged particles, the observation giving information about the temperature of the sample carrier. The invention is based on the insight that a charged particle optical apparatus, such as a TEM, STEM, SEM or FIB, can be used to observe temperature related changes of a sample carrier. The changes may be mechanical changes (e.g. of a bimetal), crystallographic changes (e.g. of a perovskite), and luminescent changes (in intensity or decay time). In a preferred embodiment the sample carrier shows two bimetals, showing metals with different thermal expansion coefficients, bending in opposite directions. The distance between the two bimetals is used as a thermometer.

Abstract: A method of determining the temperature of a sample carrier in a charged particle-optical apparatus, characterized in that the method comprises the observation of the sample carrier with a beam of charged particles, the observation giving information about the temperature of the sample carrier. The invention is based on the insight that a charged particle optical apparatus, such as a TEM, STEM, SEM or FIB, can be used to observe temperature related changes of a sample carrier. The changes may be mechanical changes (e.g. of a bimetal), crystallographic changes (e.g. of a perovskite), and luminescent changes (in intensity or decay time). In a preferred embodiment the sample carrier shows two bimetals, showing metals with different thermal expansion coefficients, bending in opposite directions. The distance between the two bimetals is used as a thermometer.