Detectors and detection systems are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a detector comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of sensing elements including a first sensing element and a second sensing element, wherein at least the first sensing element is formed in a triangular shape. The detector may include a switching region configured to connect the first sensing 5 element and the second sensing element. There may also be provided a plurality of sections including a first section connecting a first plurality of sensing elements to a first output and a second section connecting a second plurality of sensing elements to a second output. The section may be provided in a hexagonal shape.

A detector includes a plurality of sensing elements, section circuitry that communicatively couples a first set of sensing elements to an input of first signal processing circuitry, and a switch network that connects sets of sensing elements. Inter-element switches may connect adjacent sensing elements, including those in a diagonal direction. An output bus may be connected to each sensing element of the first set by a switching element. There may be a common output (pickup point) arranged at one sensing element that is configured to output signals from the first set. Various switching and wiring schemes are proposed. For example, the common output may be directly connected to the switch network. A switch may be provided between the output bus and first signal processing circuitry. A switch may be provided between the switch network and the first signal processing circuitry.

The present invention provides a charged particle beam device with which optimal parameters for the device can be effectively derived in a short time period. This charged particle beam device comprises: an electron gun (1) that irradiates a sample (10) with an electron beam (2); an image processing unit (901) that acquires an image of the sample (10) from a signal (12) generated by the sample (10) due to the electron beam (2); a database (604) that holds correspondence between a first parameter that is an optical condition, a second parameter that is a value pertaining to device performance, and a third parameter that is information pertaining to the device configuration, and stores a plurality of analysis values and measurement values; and a learning machine (605) that searches the database (604) and derives a first parameter that satisfies a target value of the second parameter.

A detector includes a set of sensing elements, first section circuitry communicatively coupling a first set of sensing elements to an input of first signal processing circuitry, second section circuitry communicatively coupling a second set of sensing elements to an input of second signal processing circuitry, and interconnection circuitry communicatively coupling an output of the first signal processing circuitry to an output of the second signal processing circuitry. The interconnection circuitry may include an interconnection layer having interconnection switching elements communicatively coupled to outputs of analog signal paths of the detector. Interconnection switching elements may communicatively couple the outputs of adjacent analog signal paths. The detector may also include signal processing circuitry that includes a plurality of converters. The interconnection circuitry may be configured to selectively couple outputs of the first and second signal processing circuitry to the converters.

Electron beam position, size, or shape can be estimated by deflecting the beam to a plurality of apertures, either continuously or step-wise. Beam portions transmitted, absorbed, or scattered can be used to assess position, size, and shape. In other examples, a beam sensing aperture and the beam are oscillated with respect to each other by moving the aperture or varying the beam deflection or both. The beam can be directed to segmented detectors such as a quad detector, and currents in the segments used to assess beam position, shape, or size. The segments can be formed from a single conductive sheet on which the segments are defined but remain attached. After the conductive sheet is secured with an insulative adhesive, portions of the conductive sheet are broken away, leaving aligned segments.

Detectors and detection systems are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a detector comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of sensing elements including a first sensing element and a second sensing element, wherein at least the first sensing element is formed in a triangular shape. The detector may include a switching region configured to connect the first sensing 5 element and the second sensing element. There may also be provided a plurality of sections including a first section connecting a first plurality of sensing elements to a first output and a second section connecting a second plurality of sensing elements to a second output. The section may be provided in a hexagonal shape.

A photocathode can include a body fabricated of a wide bandgap semiconductor material, a metal layer, and an alkali halide photocathode emitter. The body may have a thickness of less than 100 nm and the alkali halide photocathode may have a thickness less than 10 nm. The photocathode can be illuminated with a dual wavelength scheme.

The charged particle beam apparatus includes a charged particle source generating a charged particle beam, a deflector deflecting the charged particle beam, a detector detecting secondary electrons emitted from an irradiation target in response to irradiation with the charged particle beam, and a processor system. The processor system (A) acquires a first time-series change in secondary electron detection-related quantity by repeatedly performing the following (A1) and (A2), (A1) directly or indirectly, maintains or changes the control amount applied to the deflector to a first control amount, and (A2) acquires the secondary electron detection-related quantity based on an output from the detector, and (B) acquires a time-series change in variation of the beam diameter of the charged particle beam based on the first time-series change.

A flat top laser beam is used to generate an electron beam with a photocathode that can include an alkali halide. The flat top profile can be generated using an optical array. The laser beam can be split into multiple laser beams or beamlets, each of which can have the flat top profile. A phosphor screen can be imaged to determine space charge effects or electron energy of the electron beam.

A photocathode can include a body fabricated of a wide bandgap semiconductor material, a metal layer, and an alkali halide photocathode emitter. The body may have a thickness of less than 100 nm and the alkali halide photocathode may have a thickness less than 10 nm. The photocathode can be illuminated with a dual wavelength scheme.