Abstract:
The invention relates to a blocking member to be placed in the diffraction plane of a TEM. It resembles the knife edge used for single sideband imaging, but blocks only electrons deflected over a small angle. As a result the Contrast Transfer Function of the TEM according to this invention will equal that of a single sideband microscope at low frequencies and that of a normal microscope for high frequencies. Preferable the highest frequency blocked by the blocking member is such that a microscope without the blocking member would show a CTF of 0.5.
Abstract:
A charged particle apparatus is equipped with a third stigmator positioned between the objective lens and a detector system, as a result of which a third degree of freedom is created for reducing the linear distortion.Further, a method of using said three stigmators, comprises exciting the first stigmator to reduce astigmatism when imaging the sample, exciting the second stigmator to reduce astigmatism when imaging the diffraction plane, and exciting the third stigmator to reduce the linear distortion.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a blocking member to be placed in the diffraction plane of a TEM. It resembles the knife edge used for single sideband imaging, but blocks only electrons deflected over a small angle. As a result the Contrast Transfer Function of the TEM according to this invention will equal that of a single sideband microscope at low frequencies and that of a normal microscope for high frequencies. Preferable the highest frequency blocked by the blocking member is such that a microscope without the blocking member would show a CTF of 0.5.
Abstract:
The invention provides multiple detectors that detect electrons that have passed through a sample. The detectors preferably detect electrons after the electrons have been passed through a prism that separates electrons according to their energies. Electrons in different energy ranges are then detected by different detectors, with preferably at least one of the detectors measuring the energy lost by the electrons as they pass through the sample. One embodiment of the invention provides EELS on core-loss electrons while simultaneously providing a bright-field STEM signal from low-loss electrons.
Abstract:
A scanning confocal transmission electron microscope includes a descan deflector and a corrector below the sample. The microscope uses a detector that is preferably significantly larger than the resolution of the microscope and is positioned in the real image plane, which provides improved contrast, particularly for light elements.
Abstract:
A method for adjusting or aligning one or more optical elements in a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) is disclosed. The TEM is equipped with an objective lens for guiding a beam of electrons to a sample, a diffraction plane in which at least a beam of unscattered electrons is focused and a structure to enhance the Contrast Transfer Function (CTF) which is situated in the diffraction plane or an image thereof.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a hybrid phase plate for use in a TEM. The phase plate according to the invention resembles a Boersch phase plate in which a Zernike phase plate is mounted. As a result the phase plate according to the invention resembles a Boersch phase plate for electrons scattered to such an extent that they pass outside the central structure (15) and resembles a Zernike phase plate for scattered electrons passing through the bore of the central structure. Comparing the phase plate of the invention with a Zernike phase plate is has the advantage that for electrons that are scattered over a large angle, no electrons are absorbed or scattered by a foil, resulting in a better high resolution performance of the TEM. Comparing the phase plate of the invention with a Boersch phase plate the demands for miniaturization of the central structure are less severe.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a TEM with a corrector (330) to improve the image quality and a phase plate (340) to improve contrast. The improved TEM comprises a correction system completely placed between the objective lens and the phase plate, and uses the lenses of the corrector to form a magnified image of the diffraction plane on the phase plate.
Abstract:
An electron microscope comprises an energy-selective filter (10) which is arranged ahead of the high-voltage field in the electron gun (2). Because the filter carries high-voltage potential and is arranged within the gun space (14) which is filled with SF.sub.6 gas, problems arise regarding electrical and mechanical passages to the filter. Notably the centering of the filter is problematic. In order to enable suitable aperture adjustment of the filter nevertheless (for current limitation and for avoiding optical aberrations introduced into the beam by the filter), there is provided an entrance diaphragm (30) which is rigidly connected to the filter parts, notably to a pole face or to a field-defining closing piece (48a) of the filter.