Provided is a charged particle beam device for which deterioration in throughput in the event of abnormality of multiple beams can be prevented. The charged particle beam device includes: a stage 11 on which a sample is mounted; a charged particle optical system configured to irradiate the sample with multiple beams including multiple primary beams; a detector 15 configured to detect secondary beams generated by interactions between the primary beams and the sample and output detection signals; and a control unit 17 configured to control the stage and the charged particle optical system to generate image data based on the detection signals from the detector obtained by scanning the sample with the multiple beams using a first scanning method. The control unit changes, when the abnormality of the multiple beams is detected based on the image data, the multiple beams to scan the sample using a second scanning method, and a scanning width of the multiple beams for scanning the sample is greater in the second scanning method than in the first scanning method.

Provided is a charged particle beam device for which deterioration in throughput in the event of abnormality of multiple beams can be prevented. The charged particle beam device includes: a stage 11 on which a sample is mounted; a charged particle optical system configured to irradiate the sample with multiple beams including multiple primary beams; a detector 15 configured to detect secondary beams generated by interactions between the primary beams and the sample and output detection signals; and a control unit 17 configured to control the stage and the charged particle optical system to generate image data based on the detection signals from the detector obtained by scanning the sample with the multiple beams using a first scanning method. The control unit changes, when the abnormality of the multiple beams is detected based on the image data, the multiple beams to scan the sample using a second scanning method, and a scanning width of the multiple beams for scanning the sample is greater in the second scanning method than in the first scanning method.

A particle beam device has a particle source, an extraction stop, an anode stop and a beam tube. A driver system of the particle beam device is configured to apply an electrical excitation stop potential to the extraction stop, to apply an electrical anode stop potential, able to be set in a variable manner, to the anode stop and to apply an electrical beam tube potential to the beam tube. A controller of the particle beam device is configured to control the driver system such that a voltage between the extraction stop and the anode stop is able to be set in a variable manner, as a result of which a current strength of the particle beam passing through the aperture of the anode stop is able to be set in a variable manner.

A particle beam device has a particle source, an extraction stop, an anode stop and a beam tube. A driver system of the particle beam device is configured to apply an electrical excitation stop potential to the extraction stop, to apply an electrical anode stop potential, able to be set in a variable manner, to the anode stop and to apply an electrical beam tube potential to the beam tube. A controller of the particle beam device is configured to control the driver system such that a voltage between the extraction stop and the anode stop is able to be set in a variable manner, as a result of which a current strength of the particle beam passing through the aperture of the anode stop is able to be set in a variable manner.

An example multi-beam scanning electron microscope (MB-SEM) for correcting both astigmatism and linear distortion at least includes an electron source coupled to provide an electron beam, an aperture plate comprising an array of apertures, the aperture plate arranged to form an array of electron beamlets from the electron beam, and an electron column including a plurality of lenses and first and second stigmators, the electron column coupled to direct the array of electron beamlets toward a sample, wherein the first and second stigmators are arranged and excited to correct both astigmatism and linear distortion.

An example multi-beam scanning electron microscope (MB-SEM) for correcting both astigmatism and linear distortion at least includes an electron source coupled to provide an electron beam, an aperture plate comprising an array of apertures, the aperture plate arranged to form an array of electron beamlets from the electron beam, and an electron column including a plurality of lenses and first and second stigmators, the electron column coupled to direct the array of electron beamlets toward a sample, wherein the first and second stigmators are arranged and excited to correct both astigmatism and linear distortion.

The present invention provides an apparatus of charged-particle beam e.g. an electron microscope comprising a plasma generator for selectively cleaning BSE detector. In various embodiments, the plasma generator is located between a sample stage and a sample table having one or more openings or holes. The plasma generator generates plasma and distributes or dissipates the plasma through the openings of the sample table toward and onto surface of the BSE detector. Cleaning contaminants on the surface of the BSE detector frequently and selectively with in-situ generated plasma can prevent the detectors from performance deterioration such as losing resolution and contrast in imaging at high levels of magnification.

The present invention provides an apparatus of charged-particle beam e.g. an electron microscope comprising a plasma generator for selectively cleaning BSE detector. In various embodiments, the plasma generator is located between a sample stage and a sample table having one or more openings or holes. The plasma generator generates plasma and distributes or dissipates the plasma through the openings of the sample table toward and onto surface of the BSE detector. Cleaning contaminants on the surface of the BSE detector frequently and selectively with in-situ generated plasma can prevent the detectors from performance deterioration such as losing resolution and contrast in imaging at high levels of magnification.

A particle beam system includes a particle source to produce a first beam of charged particles. The particle beam system also includes a multiple beam producer to produce a plurality of partial beams from a first incident beam of charged particles. The partial beams are spaced apart spatially in a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the partial beams. The plurality of partial beams includes at least a first partial beam and a second partial beam. The particle beam system further includes an objective to focus incident partial beams in a first plane so that a first region, on which the first partial beam is incident in the first plane, is separated from a second region, on which a second partial beam is incident. The particle beam system also a detector system including a plurality of detection regions and a projective system.

A particle beam system includes a particle source to produce a first beam of charged particles. The particle beam system also includes a multiple beam producer to produce a plurality of partial beams from a first incident beam of charged particles. The partial beams are spaced apart spatially in a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the partial beams. The plurality of partial beams includes at least a first partial beam and a second partial beam. The particle beam system further includes an objective to focus incident partial beams in a first plane so that a first region, on which the first partial beam is incident in the first plane, is separated from a second region, on which a second partial beam is incident. The particle beam system also a detector system including a plurality of detection regions and a projective system.