Abstract:
A method and system for creating a substantially planar face in a substrate, the method including directing one or more beams at a first surface of a substrate to remove material from a first location in the substrate, the beam being offset from a normal to the first surface by a nonzero curtaining angle; sweeping the one or more beams in a plane that is perpendicular to the first surface to mill one or more initial cuts in the substrate, the initial cuts exposing a second surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first surface; rotating the substrate through a nonzero rotation angle about an axis other than an axis that is normal to the first beam or parallel to the first beam; directing the first beam at the second surface to remove additional material from the substrate without changing the first nonzero curtaining angle; and scanning the one or more beams in a pattern across the second surface to mill one or more finishing cuts in the substrate.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus of beam processing corrects for beam drift while a beam is processing a sample. The beam position is aligned using a fiducial that is sufficiently near the working area so that the fiducial can be imaged and the sample processed without a stage moving. During processing, the beam positioning is corrected for drift using a model that predicts the drift.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus of beam processing corrects for beam drift while a beam is processing a sample. The beam position is aligned using a fiducial that is sufficiently near the working area so that the fiducial can be imaged and the sample processed without a stage moving. During processing, the beam positioning is corrected for drift using a model that predicts the drift.
Abstract:
An inductively coupled plasma charged particle source (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for focused ion beam systems includes a plasma reaction chamber (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) with a removably attached source electrode (106, 206, 306, 406, 506, 606). A fastening mechanism (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) connects the source electrode with the plasma reaction chamber and allows for a heat-conductive, vacuum seal to form. With a removable source electrode, improved serviceability and reuse of the plasma source tube are now possible.
Abstract:
An inductively coupled plasma charged particle source (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for focused ion beam systems includes a plasma reaction chamber (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) with a removably attached source electrode (106, 206, 306, 406, 506, 606). A fastening mechanism (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) connects the source electrode with the plasma reaction chamber and allows for a heat-conductive, vacuum seal to form. With a removable source electrode, improved serviceability and reuse of the plasma source tube are now possible.
Abstract:
A method and system for creating a substantially planar face in a substrate, the method including directing one or more beams at a first surface of a substrate to remove material from a first location in the substrate, the beam being offset from a normal to the first surface by a nonzero curtaining angle; sweeping the one or more beams in a plane that is perpendicular to the first surface to mill one or more initial cuts in the substrate, the initial cuts exposing a second surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first surface; rotating the substrate through a nonzero rotation angle about an axis other than an axis that is normal to the first beam or parallel to the first beam; directing the first beam at the second surface to remove additional material from the substrate without changing the first nonzero curtaining angle; and scanning the one or more beams in a pattern across the second surface to mill one or more finishing cuts in the substrate.