Disclosed herein are techniques directed toward a protective shutter for a charged particle microscope. An example apparatus at least includes a charged particle column and a focused ion beam (FIB) column, a gas injection nozzle coupled to a translation device, the translation device configured to insert the gas injection nozzle in close proximity to a stage, and a shutter coupled to the gas injection nozzle and arranged to be disposed between the sample and the SEM column when the gas injection nozzle is inserted in close proximity to the stage.

A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.

A lens element of a charged particle system comprises an electrode having a central opening. The lens element is configured for functionally cooperating with an aperture array that is located directly adjacent said electrode, wherein the aperture array is configured for blocking 5 part of a charged particle beam passing through the central opening of said electrode. The electrode is configured to operate at a first electric potential and the aperture array is configured to operate at a second electric potential different from the first electric potential. The electrode and the aperture array together form an aberration correcting lens.

Since wires connected to a linear motor are routed in a vacuum sample chamber, outgassing is generated from wire coating and efficiency of assembly operations is reduced. Further, there is a problem that thrust generation efficiency of the linear motor is reduced when a gap between a coil and a permanent magnet of the linear motor cannot be small. In order to solve the above problems, a linear motor for vacuum is provided, the linear motor for vacuum including: a mover having a permanent magnet; and a stator having a support member to which a coil is fixed, in which the support member includes a vacuum sealing portion that vacuum seals with a wall surface of a vacuum sample chamber, and a feed-through for supplying a current to the coil provided in the vacuum sample chamber.

A method and apparatus for lifting a process station from a processing module is described herein. The apparatus includes a lift assembly disposed on the processing module, a lift cage, and one or more guide pins. The lift assembly is disposed to be capable of reaching each of the process stations disposed within the processing module. The lift assembly is used for replacement and maintenance of the process stations and further enables the automated removal and placement of the process stations within the processing module. Maintenance methods enabled by the lift assembly are additionally disclosed herein.

A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.

The present invention provides an electron microscope and an observation method capable of observing secondary electrons in the atmosphere. In detail, a charged particle microscope of the invention includes: a partition wall that separates a non-vacuum space in which a sample is loaded from a vacuum space inside a charged particle optical lens barrel; an upper electrode; a lower electrode on which the sample is loaded; a power supply for applying a voltage to at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode; a sample gap adjusting mechanism for adjusting a gap between the sample and the partition wall; and an image forming unit for forming an image of the sample based on the current absorbed by the lower electrode. The secondary electrons are selectively measured by using an amplification effect due to ionization collision between electrons and gas molecules generated when a voltage is applied between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. As a detection method, a method is used which measures a current value flowing in a substrate.

An electron beam inspection apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of electron beam columns, each electron beam column configured to provide an electron beam and detect scattered or secondary electrons from an object, and an actuator system configured to move one or more of the electron beam columns relative to another one or more of the electron beam columns. The actuator system may include a plurality of first movable structures at least partly overlapping a plurality of second movable structures, the first and second movable structures supporting the plurality of electron beam columns.

Aspects and embodiments relate to electron microscopy sample preparation apparatus; and a method of preparing an electron microscopy sample. Aspects and embodiments provide electron microscopy sample preparation apparatus. The apparatus comprises a support holder configured to receive an electron microscopy sample support, the electron microscopy sample support configured to receive a fluid sample. The apparatus comprising a gas outlet configured to direct a flow of gas towards a surface of the electron microscopy sample support to adjust fluid supported by the electron microscopy sample support. Aspects and embodiments recognise that in order to be successfully imaged, a specimen must be adequately prepared for imaging. Successful and reproducible preparation of an electron microscopy sample or specimen may be key to obtaining useful results from microscopy techniques. It will be appreciated that incorrect or unsuccessful preparation of a specimen for examination, may result in damage to a specimen, poor and/or irreproducible results.

A secondary charged particle imaging system comprising: a backscattered electron detector module, wherein the backscattered electron detector module is rotatable between a first angular position and a second angular position about an axis.