Abstract:
A magnetic domain imaging system is offered which permits application of a strong magnetic field to a specimen. The imaging system includes a transmission electron microscope having an objective lens. The specimen that is magnetic in nature is placed in the upper polepiece of the objective lens. An electron beam transmitted through the specimen is imaged and displayed on a display device. A field application coil assembly for applying a magnetic field to the specimen and two deflection coil assemblies for bringing the beam deflected by the field applied to the specimen back to the optical axis are mounted in the upper polepiece.
Abstract:
An inspection apparatus by an electron beam comprises: an electron-optical device 70 having an electron-optical system for irradiating the object with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron image projected by the electron-optical system; a stage system 50 for holding and moving the object relative to the electron-optical system; a mini-environment chamber 20 for supplying a clean gas to the object to prevent dust from contacting to the object; a working chamber 31 for accommodating the stage device, the working chamber being controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; at least two loading chambers 41, 42 disposed between the mini-environment chamber and the working chamber, adapted to be independently controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; and a loader 60 for transferring the object to the stage system through the loading chambers.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved column for a charged particle beam device. The column comprises an aperture plate having multiple apertures to produce multiple beams of charged particles and a deflector to influence the beams of charged particles so that each beam appears to come from a different source. Furthermore, an objective lens is used in order to focus the charged-particle beams onto the specimen. Due to the deflector, multiple images of the source are created on the surface of the specimen whereby all the images can be used for parallel data acquisition. Accordingly, the speed of data acquisition is increased. With regard to the focusing properties of the objective lens, the beams of charged particles can basically be treated as independent particle beams which do not negatively affect each other. Accordingly, each beam basically provides the same resolution as the beam of a conventional charged particle beam device.
Abstract:
In a method for determining the degree of charge-up induced by plasma used for manufacturing a semiconductor device and an apparatus therefor, a predetermined region on a surface of a wafer on which a plasma process has been performed is repeatedly scanned with a primary electron beam. Secondary electrons generated by a reaction between the primary electron beam and the surface of the wafer that are emitted to the outside of the surface of the wafer are collected. The degree of charge-up induced at the surface of the wafer by the plasma used during the plasma process is determined from the change in the amount of collected secondary electrons. Determination as to whether a contact hole is opened or as to the degree of degradation of a gate insulating layer is made based on the degree of charge-up.
Abstract:
An inspection apparatus by an electron beam comprises: an electron-optical device 70 having an electron-optical system for irradiating the object with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron image projected by the electron-optical system; a stage system 50 for holding and moving the object relative to the electron-optical system; a mini-environment chamber 20 for supplying a clean gas to the object to prevent dust from contacting to the object; a working chamber 31 for accommodating the stage device, the working chamber being controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; at least two loading chambers 41, 42 disposed between the mini-environment chamber and the working chamber, adapted to be independently controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; and a loader 60 for transferring the object to the stage system through the loading chambers.
Abstract:
A beam of particles which undergoes a known charge state change in response to an exchange of two electrons having preoriented moments is generated. The beam is focused on a body, the magnetic properties of which are to be determined, in such a manner that the beam is reflected from the surface of the body. The number of particle charge state changes which occurred are measured in the reflected beam and provide an indication of the square of the magnetic value of the body and shows the magnetic state of the surface of the body.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for the contact-free potential measurement at an electronic component using an electron beam wherein a predetermined potential is applied to the measuring point and the output voltage of a controlled gain amplifier is set to a predetermined reference value U.sub.S by means of controlling a photomultiplier voltage U.sub.PM and the photomultiplier voltage U.sub.PM is maintained constant. The measuring voltage U.sub.M is then determined from the difference of the voltages U.sub.R -U.sub.S between the control unit output voltage U.sub.R and the index value voltage U.sub.S. The method and apparatus allow the quantitative potential measurement to be made on the conducting paths of an integrated circuit without utilizing manual adjustments.
Abstract:
A memory device and method is disclosed wherein positions of ions associated with a film are varied locally with respect to the film's surface by an electric field. A writing and erasing field is created by voltage modulating the film's conducting substrate in syncronization with low intensity electron bombardment of a local area of the film's surface by a scanning electron beam.The ion's position in the film varies the film's surface potential and alters the angular distribution imparted by its surface to primary diffracted and secondary emitted electrons. In the invention's read mode a scanning electron beam, combined with a detector discriminator, analyzes these emitted electrons to determine the surface potential at each address on the film thus reading out data stored in the film. A second means of reading out stored information utilizing detection of low energy electrons selectively diffracted by ions near the film's surface is disclosed.
Abstract:
An optical cavity is defined by a first mirror and a second mirror. The first mirror has a front surface that includes a first concave mirror. The second mirror has a front surface that includes a second concave mirror. The optical cavity has a resonant optical mode with a small focal spot size. The optical cavity may be used in a method of enhancing phase contrast in an electron beam image, and associated system for electron beam imaging or electron-beam spectroscopy, with a transmission electron beam microscope.