An apparatus for analyzing and/or processing a sample with a particle beam, comprising: a sample stage for holding the sample; a providing unit for providing the particle beam comprising: an opening for guiding the particle beam to a processing position on the sample; and a shielding element for shielding an electric field generated by charges accumulated on the sample; wherein the shielding element covers the opening, is embodied in sheetlike fashion and comprises an electrically conductive material; wherein the shielding element comprises a convex section, this section being convex in relation to the sample stage; and wherein the convex section has a through opening for the particle beam to pass through to the sample.

An apparatus for analyzing and/or processing a sample with a particle beam, comprising: a providing unit for providing the particle beam; a shielding element for shielding an electric field (E) generated by charges (Q) accumulated on the sample, wherein the shielding element has a through opening for the particle beam to pass through towards the sample; a detecting unit configured to detect an actual position of the shielding element; and an adjusting unit for adjusting the shielding element from the actual position into a target position.

A method for detecting a discharge site for a charged particle beam emitting apparatus includes switchable first and second modes. The first mode enables a beam of charged particles to be deflected by applying voltages to electrodes. The second mode enables acquisition of data items indicative of potential of each of the electrodes while the beam is being emitted without applying the voltages. The method includes, in the second mode, detecting an occurrence of a discharge when a fluctuation in potential indicated by data items relating to one of the electrodes exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and detecting a site corresponding to the electrode, as a site having an occurrence of the discharge.

Methods for detecting arcs in power delivery systems for plasma process chambers leverage visible arc detection sensors to facilitate in locating the arc and shutting down a power source associated with arc location. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an arc indication from an arc detection sensor operating in a visible light spectrum where the at least one arc detection sensor is positioned in an assembly of a power delivery system for a plasma process chamber, determining a location of the arc indication by an arc detection controller of the plasma process chamber, and activating a safety interlock signal to the power source of the power delivery system of the plasma process chamber when the at least one arc indication exceeds a threshold value. The safety interlock signal controls a power status of the power source and activating the safety interlock signal removes power source power.

In large area plasma processing systems, process gases may be introduced to the chamber via the showerhead assembly which may be driven as an RF electrode. The gas feed tube, which is grounded, is electrically isolated from the showerhead. The gas feed tube may provide not only process gases, but also cleaning gases from a remote plasma source to the process chamber. The inside of the gas feed tube may remain at either a low RF field or a zero RF field to avoid premature gas breakdown within the gas feed tube that may lead to parasitic plasma formation between the gas source and the showerhead. By feeding the gas through an RF choke, the RF field and the processing gas may be introduced to the processing chamber through a common location and thus simplify the chamber design.

To provide a charged particle beam device including a booster electrode and an object lens that generates a magnetic field in a vicinity of a sample, and capable of preventing ion discharge, an insulator is disposed between a magnetic field lens and the booster electrode. A tip of the insulator protrudes to a tip side of an upper magnetic path from a tip of a lower magnetic path of the magnetic field lens. The tip on a lower side of the insulator is above the lower magnetic path, and a non-magnetic metal electrode is embedded between the upper magnetic path and the lower magnetic path.

The inventive concept provides a support unit for supporting a substrate. The support unit includes a heating unit for heating the substrate, and wherein the heating unit includes: a plurality of heating members; and a plurality of first power lines and a plurality of second power lines providing a supply and return pathway for a power to and from the plurality of heating members, and wherein the plurality of second power lines are connected to each of the plurality of first power lines through the plurality of heating members, and at least two heating members are connected to each first power line and at least two heating members are connected to each second power line, and at least two heating members are connected in parallel between each first power line and each second power line.

A member for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes: an upper plate that has a wafer placement surface, contains no electrode, and is a ceramic material plate; an intermediate plate that is provided on a surface of the upper plate, opposite to the wafer placement surface, that is used as an electrostatic electrode, and that is a conductive material plate; and a lower plate that is joined to a surface of the intermediate plate, opposite to the surface on which the upper plate is provided, and that is a ceramic material plate.

A discharge detection apparatus includes a vacuum container, a conductive installation member in the vacuum container, the installation member being connected to the vacuum container so as to be retained by the vacuum container; a conductive antenna in the vacuum container; and a retainer comprising a material having a specific resistance of 1×10.sup.5 to 1×10.sup.11 (Ω.Math.cm), the retainer retaining the antenna with respect to the installation member without a contact between the installation member and the antenna, by means of a screw located through an inside of the antenna and an inside of the retainer.

Methods and apparatus leverage dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to treat samples for surface modification prior to photomask application and for photomask cleaning. In some embodiments, a method of treating a surface with AP plasma includes igniting plasma over an ignition plate where the AP plasma is formed by one or more plasma heads of an AP plasma reactor positioned above the ignition plate, monitoring characteristics of the AP plasma with an optical emission spectrometer (OES) sensor to determine if stable AP plasma is obtained and, if so, moving the AP reactor over a central opening of an assistant plate where the central opening contains a sample under treatment and where the assistant plate reduces AP plasma arcing on the sample during treatment. The AP reactor scans back and forth over the central opening of the assistant plate while maintaining stabilized AP plasma to treat the sample.