Method of inspecting a specimen surface, apparatus and use of fluorescent material

1. Method of inspecting a specimen surface, comprising the steps of

generating a plurality of primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

focussing the plurality of primary beams onto respective loci on the specimen surface;

collecting a plurality of secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the primary beams;

converting at least one of the collected secondary beams at a plane into an optical beam, the optical beam being imaged through free space, the optical beam traversing at least one of the primary beams onto a plane in which an optical detector is located; and

detecting the optical beam with the optical detector.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of converting the collected secondary beam into the optical beam is accomplished by means of fluorescent material.

3. Method according to claim 2 , comprising disposing the fluorescent material between an emitter of the plurality of primary beams and the specimen surface, wherein the fluorescent material is arranged to allow the primary beams to pass.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the optical beam is accomplished in a detection region outside of a volume enclosing the space being traversed by the plurality of primary beams.

5. Method according to claim 1 , comprising the step of focussing the optical beam onto a detection system in the detection region.

6. Method according to claim 5 , wherein the initial beam diameter of the optical beam is different from the beam diameter at a location where the detection system is disposed.

7. Method of inspecting a specimen surface, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

focussing the plurality of primary beams onto respective loci on the specimen surface;

collecting a plurality of secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the primary beams;

converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; and

detecting the optical beam at a location within a volume being traversed by the plurality of primary beams.

8. Method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of detecting the optical beams is accomplished by means of a micro electro mechanical system.

9. Method of inspecting a specimen surface, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

focussing the plurality of primary beams onto respective loci on the specimen surface;

collecting a plurality of secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the primary beams;

converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam by means of at least one of a electrochromic material and one or more current detectors driving at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a laser; and

detecting the optical beam.

10. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the optical beam is accomplished by an optical waveguide arranged to direct the optical beam to an optical detector.

11. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the primary beams are relatively broad beams compared to the secondary beams and the secondary beams include spatial information of the surface being impinged by the relatively broad primary beams.

12. Apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising

at least one emitter arranged to emit a plurality of primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

focussing means arranged to focus the plurality of primary beams onto respective loci on the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting a plurality of secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam, the converting means being configured to convert at least one of the collected secondary beams at a plane into the optical beam; and

detection means for detecting the optical beam, the detection means including an optical detector for detecting the optical beam;

the optical beam being imaged through free space, the optical beam traversing at least one of the primary beams onto a plane in which the optical detection means is located.

13. Apparatus according to, claim 12 , wherein the converting means comprises fluorescent material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent material is disposed on a screen.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the fluorescent screen is disposed between the at least one emitter and the specimen surface, and is constructed such that the primary beams are allowed to pass.

16. Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the collecting means and the converting means are integrated.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the detection means are located outside of a volume enclosing the space being traversed by the plurality of primary beams.

18. Apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising optical focussing means for focussing the optical beams to the detection means.

19. Apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a micro electro mechanical system for detecting the optical beams at a location within a volume being traversed by the plurality of primary beams.

20. Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a minimum distance is provided between the primary beams, so that any substantial overlap between the secondary beams is avoided.

21. Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the primary beams are relatively broad beams compared to the secondary beams and the secondary beams include spatial information of the surface being impinged by the relatively broad primary beams.

22. Apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising:

one or more emitters arranged to emit one or more primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting one or more secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the one or more primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; directing means for directing the optical beam towards a detection means, the directing means being integrated in the converting means, the directing means including one or more cavities having reflective walls in the fluorescent material; and

the detection means for detecting the optical beam.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the directing means directs the light output from the converting means in a predetermined direction.

24. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the directing means is arranged to change the direction in which the optical beam propagates in a predetermined manner.

25. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the converting means comprises a fluorescent material disposed in the form of a plate like structure.

26. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the cavities comprise a relatively small opening dimensioned so that the optical beam is emitted from the cavity through the opening.

27. An apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising:

one or more emitters arranged to emit one or more primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting one or more secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the one or more primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; directing means for directing the optical beam towards a detection means, the directing means including a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses, disposed on the fluorescent material, so that the microlenses are arranged to reduce the opening angle of the optical beamlets while maintaining the same amount of light; and

the detection means for detecting the optical beam.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein:

the directing means includes one or more cavities having reflective walls in the fluorescent material; and

the microlenses are substantially aligned with respect to the cavities, respectively.

29. An apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising:

one or more emitters arranged to emit one or more primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting one or more secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the one or more primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; directing means for directing the optical beam towards a detection means, the directing means further including one or more concave mirrors having a relatively small opening, disposed above the one or more cavities, respectively, so that the opening angle of the optical beam is determined by the opening in the mirror; and

the detection means for detecting the optical beam.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the one or more concave mirrors is spherical.

31. An apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising:

one or more emitters arranged to emit one or more primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting one or more secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the one or more primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; directing means for directing the optical beam towards a detection means, the directing means using plasmon coupled scintillation to direct light output from the converting means; and

the detection means for detecting the optical beam.

32. An apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising:

one or more emitters arranged to emit one or more primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting one or more secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the one or more primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; directing means for directing the optical beam towards a detection means, the directing means including a metal film and the converting means including a layer of fluorescent material, the metal film being deposited on the fluorescent material; and

the detection means for detecting the optical beam.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the metal film has a thickness, the thickness determining the angle at which the optical beam is emitted from the converting means.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33 , wherein the angle at which the optical beam is emitted is determined by phonon coupling due to the thickness of the metal layer.

35. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the directing means is arranged to direct the optical beam in an annular emission cone.

36. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the cavities are cone-shaped.

37. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the one or more cavity includes a truncated cone shaped reflective protrusion extending into the cavity.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the protrusion is provided with an opening to allow a primary beam to pass.

39. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the directing means is disposed at a location between the converting means and the detection means.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the directing means comprises at least one of a lens, a mirror and a prism.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40 , wherein the directing means comprises a curved concave mirror disposed above the converting means.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein the directing means comprises a Schwarzschild optical system.

43. An apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the directing means is provided with one or more openings to allow the one or more primary beams to pass, respectively.

44. An apparatus for inspecting a specimen surface, comprising:

one or more emitters arranged to emit one or more primary beams directed towards the specimen surface;

collecting means for collecting one or more secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the one or more primary beams;

converting means for converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam; directing means for directing the optical beam towards a detection means, the directing means is disposed around the one or more emitter; and

the detection means for detecting the optical beam.

45. A fluorescent plate for use in an inspection apparatus according to claim 25 .

46. A fluorescent plate and a directing means for use in an inspection apparatus according to claim 25 .

47. An apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a micro channel plate (MCP) positioned between the specimen and the converting means, the micro channel plate being constructed such that the primary beam(s) are allowed to pass, in order to increase the current in the secondary beam(s) before conversion to an optical beam or electronic signal.