An objective lens arrangement includes a first, second and third pole pieces, each being substantially rotationally symmetric. The first, second and third pole pieces are disposed on a same side of an object plane. An end of the first pole piece is separated from an end of the second pole piece to form a first gap, and an end of the third pole piece is separated from an end of the second pole piece to form a second gap. A first excitation coil generates a focusing magnetic field in the first gap, and a second excitation coil generates a compensating magnetic field in the second gap. First and second power supplies supply current to the first and second excitation coils, respectively. A magnetic flux generated in the second pole piece is oriented in a same direction as a magnetic flux generated in the second pole piece.

An arc treatment device includes an arc detector operable to detect whether an arc is present in a plasma chamber, an arc energy determiner operable to determine an arc energy value based on an energy supplied to the plasma chamber while the arc is present in the plasma chamber, and a break time determiner operable to determine a break time based on the determined arc energy value.

A charged particle beam device includes a lens barrel having a charged particle source, a sample chamber in which a sample to be irradiated with a charged particle beam is provided, and a heat emission type electron source disposed in the sample chamber and maintained at a lower potential than that of an inner wall of the sample chamber, in which the inside of the sample chamber is cleaned by electrons (e−) emitted from the heat emission type electron source after a heating current is generated by applying a voltage from an electron source power supply. The heat emission type electron source is maintained at a lower potential than that of the inner wall of the sample chamber by applying a negative voltage to the heat emission type electron source using a bias power supply. A magnitude of the negative voltage applied to the heat emission type electron source is preferably about 30 to 1000 V, particularly preferably about 60 to 120 V.

The system described herein relates to a particle beam apparatus for analyzing and/or for processing an object and to a method for operating a particle beam apparatus. The particle beam apparatus is designed for example as an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus. The particle beam apparatus comprises a beam deflection device, for example an objective lens, which is provided with a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is operated with a first coil current. The second coil is operated with a second coil current. The first coil current and/or the second coil current may always be controlled in such a way that the sum of the first coil current and the second coil current (the summation current) or the difference between the first coil current and the second coil current (the difference current) is controlled to a setpoint value.

The system described herein relates to a particle beam apparatus for analyzing and/or for processing an object and to a method for operating a particle beam apparatus. The particle beam apparatus is designed for example as an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus. The particle beam apparatus comprises a beam deflection device, for example an objective lens, which is provided with a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is operated with a first coil current. The second coil is operated with a second coil current. The first coil current and/or the second coil current may always be controlled in such a way that the sum of the first coil current and the second coil current (the summation current) or the difference between the first coil current and the second coil current (the difference current) is controlled to a setpoint value.

The disclosure relates to a method of aligning a charged particle beam apparatus, comprising the steps of providing a charged particle beam apparatus in a first alignment state; using an alignment algorithm, by a processing unit, for effecting an alignment transition from said first alignment state towards a second alignment state of said charged particle beam apparatus; and providing data related to said alignment transition to a modification algorithm for modifying said alignment algorithm in order to effect a modified alignment transition.

A current quantity measuring method of multi-beams irradiates with a charged particle beam, amplifies an electric signal corresponding to multi-beams passed through a plurality of aperture holes of an aperture member having the plurality of aperture holes to form multi-beams by irradiation with the charged particle beam, receives the electric signal amplified in the minute current measurement unit and counting the number of electrons in the multi-beams, calculates a current quantity of the multi-beams passed through the plurality of aperture holes by using a product of the calculated number of electrons in the multi-beams and elementary charge, and corrects irradiation time of the charged particle beam of each of the plurality of aperture holes on the basis of the calculated current quantity.

A corona/plasma treatment machine includes an array of electrodes arranged in a helix along a conductive central cylinder, allowing for the efficient surface treatment of materials with greater cross-sectional heights and widths than what is conventionally possible. The corona/plasma treatment machine further includes of a high frequency, high voltage power source, a dielectric, and a contact plate. The array of electrodes is driven using a motor and rotates about its longitudinal axis and is electrically isolated from its surroundings. When power is supplied to the electrode array, electrical energy is discharged from the tips of the electrodes near the contact plate and creates a plasma corona aura formed from the ionization of the surrounding air between the electrode array and the contact plate. A conveyor is positioned below the electrode array and configured to feed material through the plasma corona aura.

To provide a technique capable of measuring high-frequency electrical noise in a charged particle beam device. A charged particle beam device 100 includes an electron source 2 for generating an electron beam EB1, a stage 4 for mounting a sample 10, a detector 5 for detecting secondary electrons EB2 emitted from the sample 10, and a control unit 7 electrically connected to the electron source 2, the stage 4, and the detector 5 and can control the electron source 2, the stage 4, and the detector 5. Here, when the sample 10 is mounted on the stage 4, and a specific portion 11 of the sample 10 is continuously irradiated with the electron beam EB1 from the electron source 2, the control unit 7 can calculate a time-series change in irradiation position of the electron beam EB1 based on an amount of the secondary electrons EB2 emitted from the specific portion 11, and can calculate a feature quantity for a shake of the electron beam EB1 based on the time-series change in irradiation position. Further, the feature quantity includes a frequency spectrum.

To provide a technique capable of measuring high-frequency electrical noise in a charged particle beam device. A charged particle beam device 100 includes an electron source 2 for generating an electron beam EB1, a stage 4 for mounting a sample 10, a detector 5 for detecting secondary electrons EB2 emitted from the sample 10, and a control unit 7 electrically connected to the electron source 2, the stage 4, and the detector 5 and can control the electron source 2, the stage 4, and the detector 5. Here, when the sample 10 is mounted on the stage 4, and a specific portion 11 of the sample 10 is continuously irradiated with the electron beam EB1 from the electron source 2, the control unit 7 can calculate a time-series change in irradiation position of the electron beam EB1 based on an amount of the secondary electrons EB2 emitted from the specific portion 11, and can calculate a feature quantity for a shake of the electron beam EB1 based on the time-series change in irradiation position. Further, the feature quantity includes a frequency spectrum.