High-voltage insulation device for charged-particle optical apparatus

1. A high-voltage insulation device for use in a charged-particle optical apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of rigid pillars made of electrically insulating material,

wherein said pillars are arranged around a central passage which traverses the insulation device along a longitudinal axis thereof, each pillar having two ends which are configured to be respectively fixed to two separate electrostatic housings of a charged-particle optical apparatus, and

wherein said pillars are oriented at an inclined angle with regard to said longitudinal axis;

further comprising a vacuum housing of generally tubular shape and surrounding the pillars and the central passage, the vacuum housing comprising a length-adjustable segment.

2. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein the pillars are provided with adjustment means allowing mechanical adjustment of an effective length of the pillars.

3. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein the pillars are arranged around the longitudinal axis and in a configuration of alternating angles of tilt with regard to the longitudinal axis.

4. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , configured to be positioned within a high-vacuum space dedicated to an electro-optical column oriented along the central opening of the high-voltage insulation device.

5. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein the length-adjustable segment is a bellows segment.

6. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein each pillar is oriented to the longitudinal axis in a skew line arrangement at an angle of tilt, with the ends of each pillar located at a greater distance to the longitudinal axis than a central portion of the pillar.

7. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein at least one end of each pillar is provided with an adjustable jack for adjusting a length of the respective pillar and with a joint allowing for a correction of an angle of tilt of the pillar with respect to the longitudinal axis.

8. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein the pillars are arranged around the central passage at regular angular intervals and the number of the pillars is even.

9. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 8 , wherein the pillars are arranged in pairs.

10. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , wherein the pillars are made of one piece.

11. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 1 , further comprising a first end plate and a second end plate, the first and second end plates each having a central opening, the central passage running between the central openings of the first and second end plates wherein each pillar is arranged outside the central passage and is fixed at a first end thereof at the first end plate and at a second end thereof at the second end plate.

12. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 11 , further comprising magnetic connection elements comprising a material of high magnetic susceptibility, said elements being arranged between the first and second end plates for obtaining a magnetic connection therebetween.

13. The high-voltage insulation device of claim 11 , wherein the first and second end plates are realized as planar plates oriented parallel to each other and having the same overall circular cylindrical shape around the longitudinal axis, the respective central openings being circular and centered around the longitudinal axis.

14. A charged-particle optical apparatus, comprising:

an electro-optical column and at least two electrostatic housings, said electrostatic housings surrounding respective sections of the electro-optical column and configured for being applied different electrostatic potentials;

a high-voltage insulation device, itself comprising:

a first end plate and a second end plate, each having a central opening, wherein the central openings define a central passageway;

a plurality of rigid pillars made of electrically insulating material,

wherein said pillars are arranged around the central passage which traverses the insulation device along a longitudinal axis thereof, each pillar having two ends which are configured to be respectively fixed to two separate electrostatic housings of a charged-particle optical apparatus, and

wherein said pillars are oriented at an inclined angle with regard to said longitudinal axis;

wherein said high-voltage insulation device connects one of the electrostatic housings with the other of the electrostatic housings, wherein said electrostatic housings comprise openings configured to be combined with the central openings of the high-voltage insulation device so as to form a channel for the electro-optical column;

further comprising a vacuum housing of generally tubular shape and surrounding the pillars and the central passage, the vacuum housing comprising a length-adjustable segment.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electro-optical column is contained within a high-vacuum space, the pillars being positioned within said high-vacuum space.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a vacuum casing connecting the first and second end plates and surrounding the plurality of pillars, said vacuum casing comprising a vacuum-tight insulating ring of tubular shape arranged between the first and second end plates.