The focused ion beam apparatus includes: a vacuum container; an emitter tip disposed in the vacuum container and having a pointed front end; a gas field ion source; a focusing lens; a first deflector; a first aperture; an objective lens focusing the ion beam passing through the first deflector; and a sample stage. A signal generator responding to the ion beam in a point-shaped area is formed between the sample stage and an optical system including at least the focusing lens, the first aperture, the first deflector, and the objective lens, and a scanning field ion microscope image of the emitter tip is produced by matching a signal output from the signal generator and scanning of the ion beam by the first deflector with each other.

An object of the invention is to provide an ion beam device that can measure structures existing at different positions in a thickness direction of a sample. The ion beam device according to the invention irradiates a sample with an ion beam obtained by ionizing elements contained in a gas. After obtaining a first observation image of a first shape of a first region using a first ion beam, the ion beam device processes a hole in a second region of the sample using a second ion beam, and uses the first ion beam on the processed hole to obtain a second observation image of a second shape of the second region. By comparing the first observation image and the second observation image, a relative positional relation between the first shape and the second shape is obtained (refer to FIG. 7C).

To provide a device particularly including an imaging-type or a projection-type ion detection system, not a scanning type such as in a scanning ion microscope, and capable of performing observation or inspection at high speed with an ultrahigh resolution in a sample observation device using an ion beam. To further provide a device capable of performing observation after surface cleaning, which has been difficult in an electron beam device, or a device capable of observing structures and defects in a depth direction. The device includes a gas field ion source that generates an ion beam, an irradiation optical system that irradiates a sample with the generated ion beam, a potential controller that controls an accelerating voltage of the ion beam and a positive potential to be applied to the sample and an ion detection unit that images or projects ions reflected from the sample as a microscope image, in which the potential controller includes a storage unit storing a first positive potential allowing the ion beam to collide with the sample and a second positive potential for reflecting the ion beam before allowing the ion beam to collide with the sample. Then, the potential controller includes a sputter controller for removing part of a sample surface by setting the first positive potential and an image acquisition controller for obtaining a microscope image by setting the second positive potential.

A micro-tooling device, such as, for example, a scanning electron microscope or a focused-ion beam microscope, provides images. A first machine-learning algorithm and a second machine-learning algorithm are sequentially coupled. The first machine-learning algorithm determines a progress along a predefined workflow based on feature recognition in images associated with the workflow. The second machine-learning algorithm predicts settings of operational parameters of the micro-tooling device in accordance with the progress along the predefined workflow.

Optimization techniques are disclosed for producing sharp and stable tips/nanotips relying on liquid Taylor cones created from electrically conductive materials with high melting points. A wire substrate of such a material with a preform end in the shape of a regular or concave cone, is first melted with a focused laser beam. Under the influence of a high positive potential, a Taylor cone in a liquid/molten state is formed at that end. The cone is then quenched upon cessation of the laser power, thus freezing the Taylor cone. The tip of the frozen Taylor cone is reheated by the laser to allow its precise localized melting and shaping. Tips thus obtained yield desirable end-forms suitable as electron field emission sources for a variety of applications. In-situ regeneration of the tip is readily accomplished. These tips can also be employed as regenerable bright ion sources using field ionization/desorption of introduced chemical species.

Provided is a charged particle beam microscope which has a small mechanical vibration amplitude of a distal end of an emitter tip, is capable of obtaining an ultra-high resolution sample observation image and removing shaking or the like of the sample observation image. A gas field ion source includes: an emitter tip configured to generate ions; an emitter-base mount configured to support the emitter tip; a mechanism configured to heat the emitter tip; an extraction electrode installed to face the emitter tip; and a mechanism configured to supply a gas to the vicinity of the emitter tip, wherein the emitter tip heating mechanism is a mechanism of heating the emitter tip by electrically conducting a filament connecting at least two terminals, the terminals are connected by a V-shaped filament, an angle of the V shape is an obtuse angle, and the emitter tip is connected to a substantial center of the filament.

The present disclosure relates to a gas field ion source comprising a housing, an electrically conductive tip arranged within the housing, a gas supply for supplying one or more gases to the housing, wherein the one or more gases comprise neon or a noble gas with atoms having a mass larger than neon, and an extractor electrode having a hole to permit ions generated in the neighborhood of the tip to pass through the hole. A surface of the extractor electrode facing the tip can be made of a material having a negative secondary ion sputter rate of less than 10.sup.5 per incident neon ion.

The disclosure relates to a method of operating a gas field ion beam system in which the gas field ion beam system comprises an external housing, an internal housing, arranged within the external housing, an electrically conductive tip arranged within the internal housing, a gas supply for supplying one or more gases to the internal housing, the gas supply having a tube terminating within the internal housing, and an extractor electrode having a hole to permit ions generated in the neighborhood of the tip to pass through the hole into the external housing. The method comprises the step of regularly heating the external housing, the internal housing, the electrically conductive tip, the tube and the extractor electrode to a temperature of above 100 C.

An ion beam device according to the present invention includes a gas field ion source including an emitter tip supported by an emitter base mount, a ionization chamber including an extraction electrode and being configured to surround the emitter tip, and a gas supply tube. A center axis line of the extraction electrode overlaps or is parallel to a center axis line of the ion irradiation light system, and a center axis line passing the emitter tip and the emitter base mount is inclinable with respect to a center axis line of the ionization chamber. Accordingly, an ion beam device including a gas field ion source capable of adjusting the direction of the emitter tip is provided.

Optimization techniques are disclosed for producing sharp and stable tips/nanotips relying on liquid Taylor cones created from electrically conductive materials with high melting points. A wire substrate of such a material with a preform end in the shape of a regular or concave cone, is first melted with a focused laser beam. Under the influence of a high positive potential, a Taylor cone in a liquid/molten state is formed at that end. The cone is then quenched upon cessation of the laser power, thus freezing the Taylor cone. The tip of the frozen Taylor cone is reheated by the laser to allow its precise localized melting and shaping. Tips thus obtained yield desirable end-forms suitable as electron field emission sources for a variety of applications. In-situ regeneration of the tip is readily accomplished. These tips can also be employed as regenerable bright ion sources using field ionization/desorption of introduced chemical species.