Abstract: A multiple particle beam microscope and an associated method set a desired focal plane with an optical resolution and set a telecentric irradiation with the plurality of the primary beams. A method determines an optimal setting plane, into which an object surface is brought. Further, a system provides an improved resolution and telecentric irradiation for a large number of primary beams. Targeted selection and targeted individual influencing of individual primary beams and/or a mechanism means for influencing the plurality of primary beams in collective fashion can be implemented.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-beam particle microscope for imaging a 3D sample layer by layer, and a computer system with a multi-tier architecture is disclosed. The multi-tier architecture can allow for an optimized image processing by gradually reducing the amount of parallel processing speed when data exchange between different processing systems and/or of data originating from different detection channels takes place. A method images a 3D sample layer by layer. A computer program product includes a program code for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-beam particle microscope for imaging a 3D sample layer by layer, and a computer system with a multi-tier architecture is disclosed. The multi-tier architecture can allow for an optimized image processing by gradually reducing the amount of parallel processing speed when data exchange between different processing systems and/or of data originating from different detection channels takes place. A method images a 3D sample layer by layer. A computer program product includes a program code for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A multi-beam charged particle microscope and a method of operating a multi-beam charged particle microscope for wafer inspection with high throughput and with high resolution and high reliability are provided. The method of operation and the multi-beam charged particle beam microscope comprises a mechanism for a synchronized scanning operation and image acquisition by a plurality of charged particle beamlets according a selected scan program, wherein the selected scan program can be selected according an inspection task from different scan programs.

Abstract: A multiple particle beam microscope and an associated method set a desired focal plane with an optical resolution and set a telecentric irradiation with the plurality of the primary beams. A method determines an optimal setting plane, into which an object surface is brought. Further, a system provides an improved resolution and telecentric irradiation for a large number of primary beams. Targeted selection and targeted individual influencing of individual primary beams and/or a mechanism means for influencing the plurality of primary beams in collective fashion can be implemented.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-beam particle microscope for imaging a 3D sample layer by layer, and a computer system with a multi-tier architecture is disclosed. The multi-tier architecture can allow for an optimized image processing by gradually reducing the amount of parallel processing speed when data exchange between different processing systems and/or of data originating from different detection channels takes place. A method images a 3D sample layer by layer. A computer program product includes a program code for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A multi-beam particle microscope includes first particle optics in order to direct particle beams onto an object, a detector with detection regions, with a transducer being assigned to each detection region, and a data acquisition system, which has a control computer system, image recording computer systems and a screen. The image recording computer systems receive electrical signals from the transducers and generates a first file, which represents a high resolution image, and a second file, which represents a low resolution image. The control computer system maintains a data structure which represents an assignment of transducers to two-dimensional spatial vectors and depicts the images on the screen, wherein a reference point in each image is arranged on the screen in a coordinate system of the screen at a location which is defined by a sum of a leading vector, which is the same for all images, and the spatial vector.

Abstract: A multi-beam particle microscope includes first particle optics in order to direct particle beams onto an object, a detector with detection regions, with a transducer being assigned to each detection region, and a data acquisition system, which has a control computer system, image recording computer systems and a screen. The image recording computer systems receive electrical signals from the transducers and generates a first file, which represents a high resolution image, and a second file, which represents a low resolution image. The control computer system maintains a data structure which represents an assignment of transducers to two-dimensional spatial vectors and depicts the images on the screen, wherein a reference point in each image is arranged on the screen in a coordinate system of the screen at a location which is defined by a sum of a leading vector, which is the same for all images, and the spatial vector.