The electron gun is provided with a first anode electrode and a second anode electrode to generate an acceleration and deceleration electric field. A lens electric field makes it possible to irradiate a sample with an electron beam emitted from a part outside an optical axis of the photoelectric film without being blocked by a differential exhaust diaphragm. A wide range of electron beams off-optical axis can be used even in a high-brightness photocathode that requires high vacuum. As a result, the photoelectric film and the electron gun can be extended in life, can be stabilized, and can be increased in brightness. Further, it is possible to facilitate a control of emitting electron beams from a plurality of positions on the photoelectric film, a timing control of emitting electron beams from a plurality of positions, a condition control of an electron beam in an electron microscope using electron beams.

An x-ray analysis apparatus comprises an electron beam assembly for generating a focused electron beam within a first gas pressure environment. A sample assembly is used for retaining a sample within a second gas pressure environment such that the sample receives the electron beam from the electron beam assembly and such that the gas pressure in the second gas pressure environment is greater than the gas pressure within the first gas pressure environment. An x-ray detector is positioned so as to have at least one x-ray sensor element within the first gas pressure environment. The sensor element is mounted to a part of the electron beam assembly which is proximal to the sample assembly and further arranged in use to receive x-rays generated by the interaction between the electron beam and the sample.

The invention relates to a charged particle beam generator. The generator may comprise a high voltage shielding arrangement (201) for shielding components outside the shielding arrangement from high voltages within the shielding arrangement, and a vacuum pump (220) located outside the shielding arrangement for regulating a pressure of a space within the shielding arrangement. The generator may comprise a collimator system with a cooling arrangement (405a/407a-407b/405b) comprising cooling channels inside electrodes of the collimator system.

[Problem]

A technique capable of preventing gas containing a contaminant from flowing into a container and preventing inert gas flowing out of the container is provided.

[Solution]

An optical apparatus 100 includes a light irradiation device 1 capable of emitting light 3, a plurality of container components 13, 21, and 31, a gas supply port 22, and a gas suction port 32. A purge space 20 to which inert gas is supplied, a gas suction space 30 from which gas present is suctioned, and a space outside apparatus 80 are separated from each other by the plurality of container components 13, 21, and 31. The purge space 20 is used as the optical path of the light 3. An optical element 4b is disposed in the purge space 20. By supplying inert gas from a gas supply port 22 into the purge space 20 and suctioning gas present in the gas suction space 30 from the gas suction port 32, atmospheric pressure in the gas suction space 30 can be controlled to be lower than atmospheric pressure in the purge space 20 and atmospheric pressure in the space outside apparatus 80.

An x-ray analysis apparatus comprises an electron beam assembly for generating a focused electron beam within a first gas pressure environment. A sample assembly is used for retaining a sample within a second gas pressure environment such that the sample receives the electron beam from the electron beam assembly and such that the gas pressure in the second gas pressure environment is greater than the gas pressure within the first gas pressure environment. An x-ray detector is positioned so as to have at least one x-ray sensor element within the first gas pressure environment. The sensor element is mounted to a part of the electron beam assembly which is proximal to the sample assembly and further arranged in use to receive x-rays generated by the interaction between the electron beam and the sample.

Applicants have found that energetic neutral particles created by a charged exchange interaction between high energy ions and neutral gas molecules reach the sample in a ion beam system using a plasma source. The energetic neutral create secondary electrons away from the beam impact point. Methods to solve the problem include differentially pumped chambers below the plasma source to reduce the opportunity for the ions to interact with gas.

Disclosed is a charged particle optical apparatus. The charged particle optical apparatus has a liner electrode in a first vacuum zone. The liner electrode is used to generate an electrostatic objective lens field. The apparatus has a second electrode which surrounds at least a section of the primary particle beam path. The section extends in the first vacuum zone and downstream of the liner electrode. A third electrode is provided having a differential pressure aperture through which the particle beam path exits from the first vacuum zone. A particle detector is configured for detecting emitted particles, which are emitted from the object and which pass through the differential pressure aperture of the third electrode. The liner electrode, the second and third electrodes are operable at different potentials relative to each other.

The invention relates to a charged particle lithography system for exposing a target. The system includes a charged particle beam generator for generating a charged particle beam; an aperture array (6) for forming a plurality of beamlets from the charged particle beam; and a beamlet projector (12) for projecting the beamlets onto a surface of the target. The charged particle beam generator includes a charged particle source (3) for generating a diverging charged particle beam; a collimator system (5a,5b,5c,5d; 72;300) for refracting the diverging charged particle beam; and a cooling arrangement (203) for removing heat from the collimator system, the cooling arrangement comprising a body surrounding at least a portion of the collimator system.

The present disclosure relates to a gas field ion source comprising a housing, an electrically conductive tip arranged within the housing, a gas supply for supplying one or more gases to the housing, wherein the one or more gases comprise neon or a noble gas with atoms having a mass larger than neon, and an extractor electrode having a hole to permit ions generated in the neighborhood of the tip to pass through the hole. A surface of the extractor electrode facing the tip can be made of a material having a negative secondary ion sputter rate of less than 10.sup.5 per incident neon ion.

Conventional devices have been difficult to use due to insufficient consideration being given to factors such as the cost necessary for diaphragm replacement and the convenience of the work. In the present invention, a diaphragm mounting member installed in a charged particle beam device for radiating a primary charged particle beam through a diaphragm separating a vacuum space and an atmospheric pressure space onto a sample placed in the atmospheric pressure space is provided with a diaphragm installation portion to which a TEM membrane is mounted and a casing fixing portion mounted on a casing of the charged particle beam device. The diaphragm installation portion has a positioning structure for positioning a platform on which the diaphragm is held.