A mass analyzing electromagnet is provided. The mass analyzing electromagnet includes an analysis tube having an internal zone formed as a passage for the ion beam; and a shield member mounted to an inner wall surface of the analyzing tube, a portion of the shield member intersecting with a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of an ion beam and a mass-based separation direction of the ion beam so as to block a portion of the ion beam.

A measurement method capable of easily measuring the directions of detector segments of a segmented detector relative to a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) image is provided. The measurement method is for use in an electron microscope equipped with the segmented detector having a detection surface divided into the detector segments. The measurement method is used to measure the directions of the detector segments relative to the STEM image. The method involves defocusing the STEM image to thereby cause a deviation of the STEM image and measuring the directions of the detector segments relative to the STEM image from the direction of the deviation of the STEM image (step S11).

A method of producing a corrected beam of charged particles for use in a charged-particle microscope, comprising the following steps: Providing a non-monoenergetic input beam of charged particles; Passing said input beam through an optical module comprising a series arrangement of: A stigmator, thereby producing an astigmatism-compensated, energy-dispersed intermediate beam with a particular monoenergetic line focus direction; A beam selector, comprising a slit that is rotationally oriented so as to match a direction of the slit to said line focus direction, thereby producing an output beam comprising an energy-discriminated portion of said intermediate beam.

A chicane blanker assembly for a charged particle beam system includes an entrance and an exit, at least one neutrals blocking structure, a plurality of chicane deflectors, a beam blanking deflector, and a beam blocking structure. The entrance is configured to accept a beam of charged particles propagating along an axis. The at least one neutrals blocking structure intersects the axis. The plurality of chicane deflectors includes a first chicane deflector, a second chicane deflector, a third chicane deflector, and a fourth chicane deflector sequentially arranged in series between the entrance and the exit and configured to deflect the beam along a path that bypasses the neutrals blocking structure and exits the chicane blanker assembly through the exit. In embodiments, the chicane blanker assembly includes a two neutrals blocking structures. In embodiments, the beam blocking structure is arranged between the third chicane deflector and the fourth chicane deflector.

A chicane blanker assembly for a charged particle beam system includes an entrance and an exit, at least one neutrals blocking structure, a plurality of chicane deflectors, a beam blanking deflector, and a beam blocking structure. The entrance is configured to accept a beam of charged particles propagating along an axis. The at least one neutrals blocking structure intersects the axis. The plurality of chicane deflectors includes a first chicane deflector, a second chicane deflector, a third chicane deflector, and a fourth chicane deflector sequentially arranged in series between the entrance and the exit and configured to deflect the beam along a path that bypasses the neutrals blocking structure and exits the chicane blanker assembly through the exit. In embodiments, the chicane blanker assembly includes a two neutrals blocking structures. In embodiments, the beam blocking structure is arranged between the third chicane deflector and the fourth chicane deflector.

To provide a scanning electron microscope having an electron spectroscopy system to attain high spatial resolution and a high secondary electron detection rate under the condition that energy of primary electrons is low, the scanning electron microscope includes: an objective lens 105; primary electron acceleration means 104 that accelerates primary electrons 102; primary electron deceleration means 109 that decelerates the primary electrons and irradiates them to a sample 106; a secondary electron deflector 103 that deflects secondary electrons 110 from the sample to the outside of an optical axis of the primary electrons; a spectroscope 111 that disperses secondary electrons; and a controller that controls application voltage to the objective lens, the primary electron acceleration means and the primary electron deceleration means so as to converge the secondary electrons to an entrance of the spectroscope.

To provide a scanning electron microscope having an electron spectroscopy system to attain high spatial resolution and a high secondary electron detection rate under the condition that energy of primary electrons is low, the scanning electron microscope includes: an objective lens 105; primary electron acceleration means 104 that accelerates primary electrons 102; primary electron deceleration means 109 that decelerates the primary electrons and irradiates them to a sample 106; a secondary electron deflector 103 that deflects secondary electrons 110 from the sample to the outside of an optical axis of the primary electrons; a spectroscope 111 that disperses secondary electrons; and a controller that controls application voltage to the objective lens, the primary electron acceleration means and the primary electron deceleration means so as to converge the secondary electrons to an entrance of the spectroscope.

The disclosure relates to a method of imaging a specimen using a transmission charged particle microscope, said method comprising providing a specimen, and providing a charged particle beam and directing said charged particle beam onto said specimen for generating a flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen. The method comprises the step of generating and recording a first energy filtered flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen, wherein said first energy filtered flux of charged particles substantially consists of non-scattered and elastically scattered charged particles. The method as disclosed herein comprises the further step of generating and recording a second energy filtered flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen, wherein said second energy filtered flux of charged particles substantially consists of inelastically scattered charged particles. Said first and second recorded energy filtered flux are then used for imaging said specimen with increased contrast.

The disclosure relates to a method of imaging a specimen using a transmission charged particle microscope, said method comprising providing a specimen, and providing a charged particle beam and directing said charged particle beam onto said specimen for generating a flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen. The method comprises the step of generating and recording a first energy filtered flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen, wherein said first energy filtered flux of charged particles substantially consists of non-scattered and elastically scattered charged particles. The method as disclosed herein comprises the further step of generating and recording a second energy filtered flux of charged particles transmitted through the specimen, wherein said second energy filtered flux of charged particles substantially consists of inelastically scattered charged particles. Said first and second recorded energy filtered flux are then used for imaging said specimen with increased contrast.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-beam image acquisition apparatus, includes: an objective lens configured to image multiple primary electron beams on a substrate by using the multiple primary electron beams; a separator configured to have two or more electrodes for forming an electric field and two or more magnetic poles for forming a magnetic field and configured to separate multiple secondary electron beams emitted due to the substrate being irradiated with the multiple primary electron beams from trajectories of the multiple primary electron beams by the electric field and the magnetic field formed; a deflector configured to deflect the multiple secondary electron beams separated; a lens arranged between the objective lens and the deflector and configured to image the multiple secondary electron beams at a deflection point of the deflector; and a detector configured to detect the deflected multiple secondary electron beams.