Generating an image of an object and/or a representation of data about the object uses a particle beam apparatus. The particle beam apparatus comprises at least one control unit for setting a guide unit by selecting a value of a control parameter of the control unit. A functional relationship is determined between a first control parameter value and a second control parameter value depending on the predeterminable range of a landing energy of the particles. A desired value of the landing energy is set. The value of the control parameter corresponding to the desired value of the landing energy is selected on the basis of the determined functional relationship and the guide unit is controlled using the value of the control parameter corresponding to the desired value of the landing energy.

A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with oblique illumination is proposed. In the apparatus, a new source-conversion unit changes a single electron source into a slant virtual multi-source array, a primary projection imaging system projects the array to form plural probe spots on the sample with oblique illumination, and a condenser lens adjusts the currents of the plural probe spots. In the source-conversion unit, the image-forming means not only forms the slant virtual multi-source array, but also compensates the off-axis aberrations of the plurality of probe spots. The apparatus can provide dark-field images and/or bright-field images of the sample.

One embodiment relates to a method of automated inspection of scattered hot spot areas on a manufactured substrate using an electron beam apparatus. A stage holding the substrate is moved along a swath path so as to move a field of view of the electron beam apparatus such that the moving field of view covers a target area on the substrate. Off-axis imaging of the hot spot areas within the moving field of view is performed. A number of hot spot areas within the moving field of view may be determined, and the speed of the stage movement may be adjusted based on the number of hot spot areas within the moving field of view. Another embodiment relates to an electron beam apparatus for inspecting scattered areas on a manufactured substrate. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.

A system for performing diffraction analysis, includes a mill for removing a surface portion of a sample, and an analyzer for performing diffraction analysis on the milled sample.

In this invention, information of material composition, process conditions and candidates of crystal structure either known or imported from material database is used to determine sample stage tilt angle and working distance (WD). Under these determined tilt angle and WD, the intensity of the electrons emitted at different angles and with different energies is measured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) system comprising: a use of materials database containing materials composition, formation process, crystal structure and its electron yield; a sample stage that is able to move, rotate and tilt; an processing section for calculating optimum working distance for an observation from material database and measurement condition; means for acquiring an image of crystal information of a desired area of a sample based on an image obtained from SEM observation.

The present invention makes it possible to analyze trace carbon in a sample without the effects of contamination. In an electron probe microanalyzer, a liquid nitrogen trap and a plasma or oxygen radical generator are jointly used as a means for suppressing contamination, and two or more carbon detection units for detecting characteristic x-rays of carbon in the sample are provided.

A method capable of accurately detecting a defect of a contact hole by using voltage contrast images is disclosed. This method includes: obtaining a plurality of voltage contrast images generated at different points in time; calculating average brightness levels of respective contact holes on each of the plurality of voltage contrast images; calculating a brightness index value which is an average of the average brightness levels of respective contact holes on each of the plurality of voltage contrast images; calculating a difference between an average brightness level of each contact hole on each voltage contrast image and the brightness index value that has been calculated for that voltage contrast image; calculating a sum of the differences that have been calculated for contact holes located at the same position in the plurality of voltage contrast images; comparing the sum of the differences with a defect threshold value; and detecting a defect of a contact hole with which the sum of the differences is larger than the defect threshold value.

A method for making a transparent conductive layer comprising: providing a carbon nanotube film comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes; providing a conductive substrate and applying an insulating layer on the conductive substrate; laying the carbon nanotube film on a surface of the insulating layer, and placing the carbon nanotube film under a scanning electron microscope; adjusting the scanning electron microscope, and taking photos of the carbon nanotube film with the scanning electron microscope; obtaining a photo of the carbon nanotube film, wherein the photo shows the plurality of carbon nanotubes and a background, a plurality of first carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes have lighter color than a color of the background, a plurality of second carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes have deeper color than the color of the background; and removing the plurality of second carbon nanotubes.

A system for performing diffraction analysis, includes a focused ion beam (FIB) device for preparing a sample, a mill for removing a surface portion of the prepared sample, and an analyzer for performing diffraction analysis on the milled sample.

A structure for grounding an extreme ultraviolet mask (EUV mask) is provided to discharge the EUV mask during the inspection by an electron beam inspection tool. The structure for grounding an EUV mask includes at least one grounding pin to contact conductive areas on the EUV mask, wherein the EUV mask may have further conductive layer on sidewalls or/and back side. The inspection quality of the EUV mask is enhanced by using the electron beam inspection system because the accumulated charging on the EUV mask is grounded. The reflective surface of the EUV mask on a continuously moving stage is scanned by using the electron beam simultaneously. The moving direction of the stage is perpendicular to the scanning direction of the electron beam.