A method of controlling a transmission electron microscope includes: causing a first magnetic field lens to generate a first magnetic field and causing a second magnetic field lens to generate a second magnetic field; causing the magnetic field applying unit to generate a magnetic field of a direction along an optical axis on a specimen mounting surface; and changing excitations of the first excitation coil and the second excitation coil to correct a deviation of a focal length of an objective lens due to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field applying unit.

An interference optical system unit includes at least one electromagnetic lens that forms an image of a charged particle beam, at least one charged particle beam biprism, and a support member for the electromagnetic lens and the charged particle beam biprism. The electromagnetic lens, the charged particle beam biprism, the support member, and a space to an image plane of the electromagnetic lens are integrally configured as one unit. The interference optical system unit is disposed to have an optical axis coaxialized with an optical axis of an imaging optical system of an upstream stage that is disposed on an upstream side of the unit in a flow direction of the charged particle beam. A focal length of the electromagnetic lens and a deflection angle of the charged particle beam given by the charged particle beam biprism are controlled to generate an interference fringe of the charged particle beam on the image plane of the electromagnetic lens.

An objective lens arrangement includes a first, second and third pole pieces, each being substantially rotationally symmetric. The first, second and third pole pieces are disposed on a same side of an object plane. An end of the first pole piece is separated from an end of the second pole piece to form a first gap, and an end of the third pole piece is separated from an end of the second pole piece to form a second gap. A first excitation coil generates a focusing magnetic field in the first gap, and a second excitation coil generates a compensating magnetic field in the second gap. First and second power supplies supply current to the first and second excitation coils, respectively. A magnetic flux generated in the second pole piece is oriented in a same direction as a magnetic flux generated in the second pole piece.

Apparatus and methods for adjusting beam condition of charged particles are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more first multipole lenses displaced above an aperture, the one or more first multipole lenses being configured to adjust a beam current of a charged-particle beam passing through the aperture. The apparatus also includes one or more second multipole lenses displaced below the aperture, the one or more second multipole lenses being configured to adjust at least one of a spot size and a spot shape of the beam.

An objective lens arrangement includes a first, second and third pole pieces, each being substantially rotationally symmetric. The first, second and third pole pieces are disposed on a same side of an object plane. An end of the first pole piece is separated from an end of the second pole piece to form a first gap, and an end of the third pole piece is separated from an end of the second pole piece to form a second gap. A first excitation coil generates a focusing magnetic field in the first gap, and a second excitation coil generates a compensating magnetic field in the second gap. First and second power supplies supply current to the first and second excitation coils, respectively. A magnetic flux generated in the second pole piece is oriented in a same direction as a magnetic flux generated in the second pole piece.

A scanning electron microscope comprises three objective lenses, including a distant objective lens and a close objective lens, which are of conventional type, and an immersion objective lens of the immersion type below the distant objective lens and the close objective lens. These three objective lenses can be controlled independently, therefor different combinations of active objective lenses can be achieved. The scanning electron microscope therefore offers various imaging modes. There is a possibility to switch between these imaging modes and therefore, choose the most suitable way of imaging for given application.

A charged particle beam writing method includes forming an aperture image by making a charged particle beam pass through an aperture substrate, changing, in the state where a plurality of crossover positions of the charged particle beam and positions of all of one or more intermediate images of the aperture image are adjusted to matching positions with respect to the aperture image with the first magnification, magnification of the aperture image from the first magnification to the second magnification by using a plurality of lenses while maintaining the last crossover position of the charged particle beam and the position of the last intermediate image of the aperture image to be fixed, and forming, using an objective lens, the aperture image whose magnification has been changed to the second magnification on the surface of the target object, and writing the aperture image.

A charged particle beam arrangement is described. The charged particle beam arrangement includes a charged particle source including a cold field emitter, a beam limiting aperture between the charged particle source and a magnetic condenser lens; the magnetic condenser lens comprising a first inner pole piece and a first outer pole piece, wherein a first axial distance between the charged particle source and the first inner pole piece is equal or less than approximately 20 mm, an acceleration section for accelerating the charged particle beam to an energy of 10 keV or more, a magnetic objective lens comprising a second inner pole piece and a second outer pole piece, a third axial distance between the second inner pole piece and a surface of a specimen is equal to or less than approximately 20 mm, and a deceleration section.

An interference optical system unit includes at least one electromagnetic lens that forms an image of a charged particle beam, at least one charged particle beam biprism, and a support member for the electromagnetic lens and the charged particle beam biprism. The electromagnetic lens, the charged particle beam biprism, the support member, and a space to an image plane of the electromagnetic lens are integrally configured as one unit. The interference optical system unit is disposed to have an optical axis coaxialized with an optical axis of an imaging optical system of an upstream stage that is disposed on an upstream side of the unit in a flow direction of the charged particle beam. A focal length of the electromagnetic lens and a deflection angle of the charged particle beam given by the charged particle beam biprism are controlled to generate an interference fringe of the charged particle beam on the image plane of the electromagnetic lens.

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.