The present invention is directed to a side entry type sample holder which enables observation with an observation apparatus without removing the sample to be analyzed from the sample holder after processing the sample to be analyzed by a processing apparatus. The sample holder includes a grip, a sample holder main body extending from the grip, a tip portion which is connected to the sample holder main body and provided with a sample table for fixing a sample, and a mechanism which changes a relative positional relationship between a processing surface of the sample fixed to the sample table and an irradiation direction of an ion beam, and causes the tip portion to avoid irradiation with the ion beam during sample processing.

The present invention addresses a problem of providing a specimen holder capable of observing phenomena on the surface and in the inner part of a specimen, the phenomena being generated in different gas spaces, and a charged particle beam device provided with the specimen holder. In order to solve this problem, a specimen holder for a charged particle beam device which observes a specimen using a charged particle beam is configured such that the specimen holder includes a first gas injection nozzle capable of injecting a first gas to a first portion of a specimen, a second gas injection nozzle capable of injecting a second gas to a second portion of the specimen, the second portion being different from the first portion, and a partition part provided between the first gas injection nozzle and the second gas injection nozzle.

A microscopy system includes a gas cluster beam system configured for generating a beam of gas clusters directed toward a sample to irradiate a sample and mill away successive surface layers from the sample, a scanning electron microscope system configured for irradiating the successive surface layers of the sample with an electron beam and for imaging the successive surface layers of the sample in response to the irradiation of the surface layer, and a processor configured for generating a three dimensional image of the sample based on the imaging of the successive layers of the sample.

Automated processing is provided. A charged particle beam apparatus includes: an image identity degree determination unit determining whether an identity degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the identity degree indicating a degree of identity between a processing cross-section image that is an SEM image obtained through observation of a cross section of the sample by a scanning electron microscope, and a criterion image that is the processing cross-section image previously registered; and a post-determination processing unit performing a predetermined processing operation according to a result of the determination by the image identity degree determination unit.

This invention pertains to an imaging method, the purpose of which is to reveal, over a wide range, information about a plurality of layers contained in a multilayer structure, or form an image of the revealed applicable layers. The method proposed includes: a step in which, while rotating the sample with the axis of the normal line of the sample surface as the axis of rotation, the sample is irradiated with an ion beam from a direction inclined with respect to the normal line direction, via a mask having an opening which selectively allows the passage of an ion beam and which is disposed at a position distant from the sample, thereby forming a hole with a band-shaped sloped surface that is inclined with respect to the sample surface; and a step in which a first image viewed from a direction intersecting with the sloped surface of the applicable layer is formed, on the basis of a signal obtained by irradiating, with a charged particle beam, the applicable layer contained in the band-shaped sloped surface.

An automatic sample preparation apparatus that automatically prepares a sample piece from a sample and includes a focused ion beam irradiation optical system, an electron beam irradiation optical system configured to irradiate an electron beam from a direction different from a direction of the focused ion beam, a sample piece transfer device configured to hold and transfer the sample piece separated and extracted from the sample, a detector configured to detect secondary charged particles emitted from an irradiation object, and a computer configured to recognize a position of the sample piece transfer device by image-recognition using an image data of the focused ion beam and the electron beam generated by irradiating the sample piece transfer device with the focused ion beam and the electron beam, and drive the sample piece transfer device, wherein the image data includes a reference mark.

Methods and apparatuses for capturing volume information of microscopic samples include a microscope system having at least one particle beam column, by which a beam of focused, charged particles can be generated, and an in-situ microtome, i.e., a microtome integrated in the microscope system. The method cam include a) providing a sample including a volume of interest (VOI); b) setting a cut surface lying within the sample; c) defining the set cut surface as processing surface; d) exposing the cut surface by virtue of ablating sample material by cutting with the in-situ microtome; and e) processing the sample with the particle beam, wherein the start point of the processing is disposed on the exposed processing surface.

A tilting element of a manipulation stage uses a movement apparatus comprising a linear actuator attached to a fixed part and connected to a blade. The blade is attached at an end to a bottom side of a movable part to tilt the movable part relative to the fixed part. A tilt angle of the movable part relative to the fixed part is changed by extending and retracting the movable part of the linear actuator and thus winding and unwinding of the blade on the bottom side of the movable part.

An apparatus and a method for micromachining samples is provided. The apparatus includes an integral combination of a sample holder, a focused ion beam exposure system for projecting a FIB onto a first position on the sample, and a light optical microscope. The LM is configured for imaging or monitoring said first position. The method includes the steps of capturing LM images of the sample, determining a position and physical dimensions of a region of interest in the sample based on the LM images, establishing from the LM images settings of the sample holder and/or the FIB exposure system, for micromachining the sample to bring the region of interest more closer to the surface, and moving the sample or the trajectory of the FIB to locate the first position on the sample accordingly, and activating the FIB for micromachining the sample.

An ion milling apparatus includes a pair of shielding members sandwiching a sample, and an ion source configured to irradiate the sample with an ion beam. The ion milling apparatus is configured to be capable of irradiating the sample with the ion beam in a first mode of irradiating the sample with the ion beam via one shielding member and in a second mode of irradiating the sample with the ion beam via the other shielding member.