A multi-electron beam image acquisition apparatus includes a multiple-beam forming mechanism to form multiple primary electron beams, a primary-electron optical system to irradiate 1a sample with the multiple primary electron beams, a beam separator, arranged at a position conjugate to an image plane of each of the multiple primary electron beams, to form an electric field and a magnetic field to be mutually perpendicular, to separate multiple secondary electron beams, emitted from the sample due to irradiation with the multiple primary electron beams, from the multiple primary electron beams by using actions of the electric field and the magnetic field, and to have a lens action on the multiple secondary electron beams in at least one of the electric field and the magnetic field, a multi-detector to detect the multiple secondary electron beams, and a secondary-electron optical system to lead the multiple secondary electron beams to the multi-detector.

A multi-beam inspection apparatus including an adjustable beam separator is disclosed. The adjustable beam separator is configured to change a path of a secondary particle beam. The adjustable beam separator comprises a first Wien filter and a second Wien filter. Both Wien filters are aligned with a primary optical axis. The first Wien filter and the second Wien filter are independently controllable via a first excitation input and a second excitation input, respectively. The adjustable beam separator is configured move the effective bending point of the adjustable beam separator along the primary optical axis based on the first excitation input and the second excitation input.

A Wien filter and a charged particle beam imaging apparatus are provided. The Wien filter Wien filter, including a Wien filter body which includes: an electrostatic deflector, including at least one pair of electrodes, respective two electrodes in each pair of which are opposite to each other, each electrode including an electrode body constructed in an arc-shaped form, and respective electrode bodies of respective two electrodes in each pair of the at least one pair of electrodes being arranged concentrically with and opposite to each other in a diameter direction, and the at least one pair of electrodes being configured to generate respective electric fields by cooperation of the respective two electrodes in each pair of the at least one pair of electrodes, in the condition of respective bias voltages applied individually thereon; and a magnetic deflector, including at least one pair of magnetic poles, respective two magnetic poles in each pair of which are opposite to each other, each magnetic pole including a magnetic pole body constructed in an arc-shaped form, and respective magnetic pole bodies of respective two magnetic poles in each pair of the at least one pair of magnetic poles being arranged concentrically with and opposite to each other in the diameter direction, and the magnetic pole bodies of the at least one pair of magnetic poles in the magnetic deflector and the electrode bodies of the at least one pair of electrodes in the electrostatic deflector being arranged concentrically and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction, and the at least one pair of magnetic poles being configured to generate respective magnetic fields by cooperation of respective two magnetic poles in each pair of the at least one pair of magnetic poles; a resultant electric field formed collectively by all of the respective electric fields is perpendicular to a resultant magnetic field formed collectively by all of the respective magnetic fields; and each electrode is also provided with a respective first protrusion extending radially inwards from a radial inner side of the respective electrode body thereof, and each magnetic pole is also provided with a second protrusion extending radially inwards from a radial inner side of the respective magnetic pole body thereof.

The present disclosure proposes a crossover-forming deflector array of an electro-optical system for directing a plurality of electron beams onto an electron detection device. The crossover-forming deflector array includes a plurality of crossover-forming deflectors positioned at or at least near an image plane of a set of one or more electro-optical lenses of the electro-optical system, wherein each crossover-forming deflector is aligned with a corresponding electron beam of the plurality of electron beams.

A Wien filter and a charged particle beam imaging apparatus are provided. The Wien filter Wien filter, including a Wien filter body which includes: an electrostatic deflector, including at least one pair of electrodes, respective two electrodes in each pair of which are opposite to each other, each electrode including an electrode body constructed in an arc-shaped form, and respective electrode bodies of respective two electrodes in each pair of the at least one pair of electrodes being arranged concentrically with and opposite to each other in a diameter direction, and the at least one pair of electrodes being configured to generate respective electric fields by cooperation of the respective two electrodes in each pair of the at least one pair of electrodes, in the condition of respective bias voltages applied individually thereon; and a magnetic deflector, including at least one pair of magnetic poles, respective two magnetic poles in each pair of which are opposite to each other, each magnetic pole including a magnetic pole body constructed in an arc-shaped form, and respective magnetic pole bodies of respective two magnetic poles in each pair of the at least one pair of magnetic poles being arranged concentrically with and opposite to each other in the diameter direction, and the magnetic pole bodies of the at least one pair of magnetic poles in the magnetic deflector and the electrode bodies of the at least one pair of electrodes in the electrostatic deflector being arranged concentrically and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction, and the at least one pair of magnetic poles being configured to generate respective magnetic fields by cooperation of respective two magnetic poles in each pair of the at least one pair of magnetic poles; a resultant electric field formed collectively by all of the respective electric fields is perpendicular to a resultant magnetic field formed collectively by all of the respective magnetic fields; and each electrode is also provided with a respective first protrusion extending radially inwards from a radial inner side of the respective electrode body thereof, and each magnetic pole is also provided with a second protrusion extending radially inwards from a radial inner side of the respective magnetic pole body thereof.

The present disclosure proposes a crossover-forming deflector array of an electro-optical system for directing a plurality of electron beams onto an electron detection device. The crossover-forming deflector array includes a plurality of crossover-forming deflectors positioned at or at least near an image plane of a set of one or more electro-optical lenses of the electro-optical system, wherein each crossover-forming deflector is aligned with a corresponding electron beam of the plurality of electron beams.

A charged particle system may include a first charged particle beam source provided on a first axis, and a second charged particle beam source provided on a second axis. There may also be provided a deflector arranged on the first axis. The deflector may be configured to deflect a beam generated from the second charged particle beam source toward a sample. A method of operating a charged particle beam system may include switching between a first state and a second state of operating a deflector. In the first state, a first charged particle beam generated from a first charged particle beam source may be blanked and a second charged particle beam generated from a second charged particle beam source may be directed toward a sample. In the second state, the second charged particle beam may be blanked and the first charged particle beam may be directed toward the sample.

The present disclosure proposes a crossover-forming deflector array of an electro-optical system for directing a plurality of electron beams onto an electron detection device. The crossover-forming deflector array includes a plurality of crossover-forming deflectors positioned at or at least near an image plane of a set of one or more electro-optical lenses of the electro-optical system, wherein each crossover-forming deflector is aligned with a corresponding electron beam of the plurality of electron beams.

The invention provides a multi-pole deflector for a charged particle beam, and a charged particle beam imaging apparatus. The deflector includes a plurality of poles, including at least two pairs of poles, each pole in each pair of poles including a main body constructed in the form of a circular arc-shaped section and a protrusion projecting from an radial inner side of the main body. respective two main bodies of each pair of poles are arranged concentrically and diametrically opposite, and the at least two pairs of poles at least partially encompass and delimit a through-hole thereamong, which opens axially and is configured to receive and to pass therethrough the charged particle beam; and the at least two pairs of poles cooperate to generate respective secondary deflection fields distributed within the through-hole and across an internal space defined within the through-hole, respectively, and the secondary deflection fields are synthesized by combination of vectors into a resultant deflection field of the deflector which is distributed within and across the through-hole and is configured to deflect the charged particle beam passing therethrough.

A Wien filter and a charged particle beam imaging apparatus are provided. The Wien filter Wien filter, including a Wien filter body which includes: an electrostatic deflector, including at least one pair of electrodes, respective two electrodes in each pair of which are opposite to each other, each electrode including an electrode body constructed in an arc-shaped form, and respective electrode bodies of respective two electrodes in each pair of the at least one pair of electrodes being arranged concentrically with and opposite to each other in a diameter direction, and the at least one pair of electrodes being configured to generate respective electric fields by cooperation of the respective two electrodes in each pair of the at least one pair of electrodes, in the condition of respective bias voltages applied individually thereon; and a magnetic deflector, including at least one pair of magnetic poles, respective two magnetic poles in each pair of which are opposite to each other, each magnetic pole including a magnetic pole body constructed in an arc-shaped form, and respective magnetic pole bodies of respective two magnetic poles in each pair of the at least one pair of magnetic poles being arranged concentrically with and opposite to each other in the diameter direction, and the magnetic pole bodies of the at least one pair of magnetic poles in the magnetic deflector and the electrode bodies of the at least one pair of electrodes in the electrostatic deflector being arranged concentrically and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction, and the at least one pair of magnetic poles being configured to generate respective magnetic fields by cooperation of respective two magnetic poles in each pair of the at least one pair of magnetic poles; a resultant electric field formed collectively by all of the respective electric fields is perpendicular to a resultant magnetic field formed collectively by all of the respective magnetic fields; and each electrode is also provided with a respective first protrusion extending radially inwards from a radial inner side of the respective electrode body thereof, and each magnetic pole is also provided with a second protrusion extending radially inwards from a radial inner side of the respective magnetic pole body thereof.