Scanning electron microscope
View Patent ↗An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning electron microscope including decelerating-electric-field forming means for decreasing the energy of a beam of electrons reaching a sample, and being capable of selectively detecting BSEs with high efficiency. To this end, the scanning electron microscope including the decelerating-electric-field forming means has a detector for detecting electrons. The detector includes a part for receiving the electrons at a position which is positioned outside trajectories of SEs accelerated by the decelerating-electric-field forming means, and which is further away from the optical axis of the beam of electrons than the trajectories of the SEs.
1. A method of measuring or observing a sample by use of a scanning electron microscope which irradiates a beam of electrons on the sample while applying a negative voltage to the sample, and hence detects electrons emitted from a spot on the sample where the beam of electrons is irradiated,
wherein backscattered electrons are detected by a detector, the backscattered electrons being emitted from the sample and subsequently traveling outside trajectories of secondary electrons when viewed from an optical axis of the beam of electrons, the secondary electrons being accelerated by an electric field formed on a basis of a negative voltage applied to the sample, the detector including a part for receiving electrons in the trajectories of the backscattered electrons but outside the trajectories of the secondary electrons accelerated by the electric field.
2. The method of measuring or observing a sample as recited in claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a part for receiving secondary electrons in the trajectories of the secondary electrons thus accelerated.
3. A scanning electron microscope, which includes: a source of electrons; an objective lens for focusing a beam of electrons emitted from the source of electrons; and a negative-voltage applying voltage supply for applying a negative voltage to a sample,
the scanning electron microscope comprising a detector including a part for receiving backscattered electrons emitted from the sample, the detector being provided in trajectories of the backscattered electrons, and the detector being positioned outside trajectories of secondary electrons when viewed from an optical axis of the beam of electrons, the secondary electrons being accelerated by an electric field formed on a basis of the negative voltage which is applied to the sample by the negative-voltage applying voltage supply.
4. The scanning electrode microscope as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a part for receiving the secondary electrons thus accelerated, the part being positioned closer to the optical axis of the beam of electrons than the part for receiving the backscattered electrons.
5. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 4 , wherein the part for receiving the backscattered electrodes and the part for receiving the secondary electrons are electrically insulated from each other.
6. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 4 , wherein a voltage applying voltage supply is connected to the part for receiving the secondary electrons.
7. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 4 , wherein the part for receiving the backscattered electrodes and the part for receiving the secondary electrons are detection surfaces of the detector.
8. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 4 , wherein the part for receiving the backscattered electrodes and the part for receiving the secondary electrons constitute a secondary electron conversion electrode for generating secondary electrons by the collision of electrons.
9. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 3 , wherein the part for receiving the backscattered electrons includes an opening which the beam of electrons is allowed to pass.
10. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 9 , further comprising a moving mechanism for moving the position of the opening which the beam of electrons is allowed to pass between inside and outside of the optical axis of the beam of electrons.
11. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 9 , wherein the moving mechanism is configured in order to switch between the opening made in the part for receiving the backscattered electrons and an opening made in the part for receiving the secondary electrodes.
12. The scanning electron microscope as recited in claim 9 , wherein the opening made in the part for receiving the backscattered electrons is larger than the opening made in the part for receiving the secondary electrons.