A method includes generating an electron beam from a radiation source; modifying an energy distribution of the electron beam through a first shaping aperture; and exposing a substrate to portions of the electron beam passing through the first shaping aperture. The first shaping aperture comprises blocking strips with a plurality of slots therebetween, a frame surrounding the blocking strips, and a diagonal support connected to the frame and one of the blocking strips.

A multi charged particle beams exposure method includes assigning, with respect to plural times of shots of multi-beams using a charged particle beam, each shot to one of plural groups, depending on a total current value of beams becoming in an ON condition in a shot concerned in the multi-beams, changing the order of the plural times of shots so that shots assigned to the same group may be continuously emitted for each of the plural groups, correcting, for each group, a focus position of the multi-beams to a focus correction position for a group concerned corresponding to the total current value, and performing the plural times of shots of the multi-beams such that the shots assigned to the same group are continuously emitted in a state where the focus position of the multi-beams has been corrected to the focus correction position for the group concerned.

A multi charged particle beams exposure method includes assigning, with respect to plural times of shots of multi-beams using a charged particle beam, each shot to one of plural groups, depending on a total current value of beams becoming in an ON condition in a shot concerned in the multi-beams, changing the order of the plural times of shots so that shots assigned to the same group may be continuously emitted for each of the plural groups, correcting, for each group, a focus position of the multi-beams to a focus correction position for a group concerned corresponding to the total current value, and performing the plural times of shots of the multi-beams such that the shots assigned to the same group are continuously emitted in a state where the focus position of the multi-beams has been corrected to the focus correction position for the group concerned.

Disclosed herein is a micro stage using a piezoelectric element that can be reliably operated even in a vacuum environment. In a particle column requiring a high precision, for example, a microelectronic column, the micro stage can be used as a stage with micro or nano degree precision for alignment of parts of the column, or for moving a sample, and so on.

Disclosed herein is a micro stage using a piezoelectric element that can be reliably operated even in a vacuum environment. In a particle column requiring a high precision, for example, a microelectronic column, the micro stage can be used as a stage with micro or nano degree precision for alignment of parts of the column, or for moving a sample, and so on.

To stabilize an emitted electron beam, a thermoelectric field emission electron source includes: an electron source having a needle shape; a metal wire to which the electron source is fixed and configured to heat the electron source; a stem fixed to an insulator and configured to energize the metal wire; a first electrode having a first opening portion and arranged such that a tip of the electron source protrudes from the first opening portion; a second electrode having a second opening portion; and an insulating body configured to position the first electrode and the second electrode such that a central axis of the first opening portion and a central axis of the second opening portion coincide with each other, and to provide electrical insulation between the first and second electrodes, so as to provide a structure that reduces an amount of gas released when the first electrode is heated.

To stabilize an emitted electron beam, a thermoelectric field emission electron source includes: an electron source having a needle shape; a metal wire to which the electron source is fixed and configured to heat the electron source; a stem fixed to an insulator and configured to energize the metal wire; a first electrode having a first opening portion and arranged such that a tip of the electron source protrudes from the first opening portion; a second electrode having a second opening portion; and an insulating body configured to position the first electrode and the second electrode such that a central axis of the first opening portion and a central axis of the second opening portion coincide with each other, and to provide electrical insulation between the first and second electrodes, so as to provide a structure that reduces an amount of gas released when the first electrode is heated.

The present invention relates to a charged particle beam system comprising a deflection subsystem configured to deflect a charged particle beam in a deflection direction based on a sum of analog signals generated by separate digital to analog conversion of a first digital signal and a second digital signal. The present invention further relates to a method of configuring the charged particle beam system so that each of a plurality of regions of interest can be scanned by varying only the first digital signal while the second digital signal is held constant at a value associated with the respective region of interest. The present invention further relates to a method of recording a plurality of images of the regions of interest at the premise of reduced interference due to charge accumulation.

The present invention relates to a charged particle beam system comprising a deflection subsystem configured to deflect a charged particle beam in a deflection direction based on a sum of analog signals generated by separate digital to analog conversion of a first digital signal and a second digital signal. The present invention further relates to a method of configuring the charged particle beam system so that each of a plurality of regions of interest can be scanned by varying only the first digital signal while the second digital signal is held constant at a value associated with the respective region of interest. The present invention further relates to a method of recording a plurality of images of the regions of interest at the premise of reduced interference due to charge accumulation.

A transmission electron microscope includes a control unit for: acquiring an image of an objective aperture; obtaining a position of the objective aperture; obtaining an amount of deviation between an object position and the position of the objective aperture, based on the position of the objective aperture; and operating an aperture moving mechanism, based on the amount of deviation of the position of the objective aperture. The position of the objective aperture is obtained by: binarizing the image of the objective aperture by using a set threshold; obtaining an area of an aperture hole of the objective aperture from the binarized image; determining whether the area is within a predetermined range; changing the threshold when a determination is made that the area is outside the predetermined range; and obtaining a position of the objective aperture when a determination is made that the area is within the predetermined range.