A scanning electron microscope. The scanning electron microscope may include a sliding vacuum seal between the electron optical imaging system and the sample carrier with a first plate having a first aperture associated with the electron optical imaging system and resting against a second plate having a second aperture associated with the sample carrier. The first plate and/or the second plate includes a groove circumscribing the first and/or second aperture. The scanning electron microscope may include a detector movable relative to the electron beam. The scanning electron microscope may include a motion control unit for moving a sample carrier along a collision free path.

There is provided an ion milling apparatus and sample holder permitting one to observe a sample, which has been milled, with an electron microscope without transferring the sample to a different holding member. The ion milling apparatus has an ion source, a sample holder, and a sample stage. The sample holder includes: a holder body having a sample holding portion for holding the sample; and a cover member detachably mounted to the holder body and hermetically sealing the sample held on the sample holding portion. The holder body has a shield plate and a field-correcting plate for correcting electric fields around the sample held on the sample holding portion.

A scanning electron microscope (1) including a sliding vacuum seal (20) between an electron optical imaging system (2) and a sample carrier (10) with a first plate (22) having a first aperture (24) associated with the electron optical imaging system and resting against a second plate (26) having a second aperture (28) associated with the sample carrier. The first plate and/or the second plate includes a groove (40) circumscribing the first and/or second aperture. The scanning electron microscope may include a detector (8) movable relative to the electron beam. The scanning electron microscope may include a motion control unit for moving a sample carrier along a collision free path.

A vacuum processing apparatus 100 includes: a vacuum chamber 1; a stage 2 placed inside the vacuum chamber 1, on which an object to be processed is placed; an internal guide rail 31 laid in the vacuum chamber 1 to guide the stage 2; a through-hole 103 made in a sidewall 102 of the vacuum chamber 1; a connecting rod 4 coupled to the stage 2 at one end and inserted in the through-hole 103, the other end being disposed outside the vacuum chamber 1; a movable member 5 connected to the other end of the connecting rod 4; a driving mechanism 8 disposed outside the vacuum chamber 1 to move the movable member 5; and a bellows 6 disposed between the movable member 5 and the sidewall 102, the bellows 6 following the movement of the movable member 5 while maintaining airtightness of the vacuum chamber 1.

Since wires connected to a linear motor are routed in a vacuum sample chamber, outgassing is generated from wire coating and efficiency of assembly operations is reduced. Further, there is a problem that thrust generation efficiency of the linear motor is reduced when a gap between a coil and a permanent magnet of the linear motor cannot be small. In order to solve the above problems, a linear motor for vacuum is provided, the linear motor for vacuum including: a mover having a permanent magnet; and a stator having a support member to which a coil is fixed, in which the support member includes a vacuum sealing portion that vacuum seals with a wall surface of a vacuum sample chamber, and a feed-through for supplying a current to the coil provided in the vacuum sample chamber.

Sample stage, e.g. for use in a scanning electron microscope. The sample stage includes a base, a sample carrier, and an actuator assembly arranged for moving the sample carrier in at least one direction substantially parallel to the base. The actuator assembly is arranged so as not to contribute to the mechanical stiffness of the sample stage from the sample carrier to the base.

Disclosed is an apparatus for processing a substrate, the apparatus including: a housing providing a processing space therein; support unit disposed within the housing and supporting a substrate; and a plasma generating unit provided above the housing, in which the plasma supplying unit includes: a plasma chamber with a discharge space formed inside; a diffusion member provided between the plasma chamber and the housing, and diffusing plasma; a plasma source for generating plasma in the discharge space from process gas; and a sealing member provided between a lower flange of the plasma chamber and an upper flange of the diffusion member, and the sealing member includes: an inner sealing member inserted into a mounting groove formed in an upper surface of the upper flange; and an outer sealing member inserted into a space formed by combination of the upper flange and the lower flange, and positioned at a further outward side from the discharge space than the inner sealing member.

Disclosed herein is a module for supporting a device configured to manipulate charged particle paths in a charged particle apparatus, the module comprising: a support arrangement configured to support the device, wherein the device is configured to manipulate a charged particle path within the charged particle apparatus; and a support positioning system configured to move the support arrangement within the module; wherein the module is arranged to be field replaceable in the charged particle apparatus.

Sample stage, e.g. for use in a scanning electron microscope. The sample stage includes a base, a sample carrier, and an actuator assembly arranged for moving the sample carrier in at least one direction substantially parallel to the base. The actuator assembly is arranged so as not to contribute to the mechanical stiffness of the sample stage from the sample carrier to the base.

Disclosed is a charged particle beam system, which includes: a particle source, a column and a specimen chamber with a first movable vacuum window. The particle source is configured to generate a charged particle beam which impinges the specimen to be detected placed in a specimen chamber. The column includes a deflection device for deflecting the charged particle beam and a focusing device for focusing the charged particle beam. The charged particle beam system is compatible with multiple external optical systems to achieve simultaneous detection or fast-switching detection of the specimen. An opto-electro simultaneous detection system and the method are also disclosed.