Methods and systems for calibrating a transmission electron microscope are disclosed. A fiducial mark on the sample holder is used to identify known reference points so that a current collection area and a through-hole on the sample holder can be located. A plurality of beam current and beam area measurements are taken, and calibration tables are extrapolated from the measurements for a full range of microscope parameters. The calibration tables are then used to determine electron dose of a sample during an experiment at a given configuration.

A substrate inspection method includes reducing a surface potential of a substrate; and increasing a difference of the surface potential of the substrate, where reducing the surface potential of the substrate includes: controlling a scanning electron microscope to irradiate an electron beam to the substrate for a first irradiation time; and after a first standby time has elapsed, controlling the scanning electron microscope to re-irradiate the electron beam to the substrate for the first irradiation time, where increasing the difference of the surface potential of the substrate includes: controlling the scanning electron microscope to irradiate the electron beam to the substrate for a second irradiation time; and after a second standby time has elapsed, controlling the scanning electron microscope to re-irradiate the electron beam to the substrate for the second irradiation time, and where the first irradiation time is less than the second irradiation time.

The present invention has for its object to provide a charged particle beam irradiation method and a charged particle beam apparatus which can suppress unevenness of electrification even when a plurality of different kinds of materials are contained in a pre-dosing area or degrees of density of patterns inside the pre-dosing area differs with positions. To accomplish the above object, a charged particle beam irradiation method and a charged particle beam apparatus are provided according to which the pre-dosing area is divided into a plurality of divisional areas and electrifications are deposited to the plural divisional areas by using a beam under different beam irradiation conditions. With the above construction, the electrifications can be deposited to the pre-dosing area on the basis of such an irradiation condition that the differences in electrification at individual positions inside the pre-dosing area can be suppressed and consequently, an influence an electric field has upon the charged particle beam and electrons given off from the sample can be suppressed.

Methods and systems for calibrating a transmission electron microscope are disclosed. A fiducial mark on the sample holder is used to identify known reference points so that a current collection area and a through-hole on the sample holder can be located. A plurality of beam current and beam area measurements are taken, and calibration tables are extrapolated from the measurements for a full range of microscope parameters. The calibration tables are then used to determine electron dose of a sample during an experiment at a given configuration.

Methods and systems for calibrating a transmission electron microscope are disclosed. A fiducial mark on the sample holder is used to identify known reference points so that a current collection area and a through-hole on the sample holder can be located. A plurality of beam current and beam area measurements are taken, and calibration tables are extrapolated from the measurements for a full range of microscope parameters. The calibration tables are then used to determine electron dose of a sample during an experiment at a given configuration.

A metal pattern inspection method which applies a pulsed voltage to a metallic pattern, sets a cycle of the pulsed voltage to be shorter than a scanning cycle in which a focused ion beam is swept, indicating only a region of a secondary charged particle image corresponding to a portion of the metallic pattern which is isolated by a wire breakage and to which the pulsed voltage is applied in the form of a first pattern created as a function of surface electrical potentials changing in level with time, detecting, as a disconnection, a boundary between the first pattern and a second pattern created as a function of surface electrical potentials not changing in level with time, and determining whether there is a breaking of or a short circuit in the metallic pattern based on the presence or absence of the disconnection.