Abstract:
This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for producing multiple pixel-by-pixel simultaneous and overlapping images of a sample (100) in a microscope (10) with multiple imaging beams (120, 130). A scanning electron microscope, a focused ion-beam microscope (10), or a microscope having both beams (120, 130), also has an optical microscope (140). A region of interest (210) on a sample (100) is scanned by both charged-particle (120) and optical (130) beams, either by moving the sample (100) beneath the beams (120, 130) by use of a mechanical stage (110), or by synchronized scanning of the stationary sample (100) by the imaging beams (120, 130), or by independently scanning the sample (100) with the imaging beams (120, 130) and recording imaging signals so as to form pixel-by-pixel simultaneous and overlapping images.