WO2009144727A2

WO2009144727A2 - Charged particle detection system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2009144727A2
Application number: PCT/IL2009/000534
Authority: WO
Inventors: Semyon Shofman; Eli Cheifetz; Armin Schon; Eitan Pinhasi
Original assignee: El Mul Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: El Mul Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-30
Filing date: 2009-05-31
Publication date: 2009-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-30
Also published as: US20090294687A1; EP2297763A4; EP2297763B1; WO2009144727A3; US7847268B2; EP2297763A2

Abstract

A charged particle detection device comprising an electric field generator configured and operable to create an electric field defining trajectories for charged particles of different types emitted from a sample as a result of the sample interaction with a particle beam, the emitted charged particles of different types being one of the following: electrons, positive ions and negative ions, an ion-to-electron converter having a conversion surface including a continuous interaction region oriented so as to intersect the trajectories of the charged particles of different types propagating from the sample, the conversion surface operative to emit electrons in response to the surface interaction with the charged particles of the different types, and an electron detector configured and operable to receive electrons from the converter and generate output data indicative thereof.

Description

CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

Applicant hereby claims priority of U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/155,233, filed on May 30, 2008, entitled "Three Modes Particle Detector" which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a charged particle detection system and method, in particular to a particle detection system capable of detecting electrons, positive ions and negative ions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrons, positive ions and negative ions are charged particles that can be emitted from a sample upon irradiation thereof by a focused ion beam. Particle detectors, which can detect both positively charged particles and negatively charged particles, are well known. These detectors typically comprise a scintillator element, which is excited by electrons that are emitted from the sample and/or generated by conversion of ions to electrons by an ion-to-electron converter. The converters used in the devices of the kind specified are designed in such a way that positive ions are allowed to impinge upon surfaces of the ion-to-electron converter and cause emission of secondary electrons from the conversion surfaces of the converter, while negatively charged particles bypass the conversion surfaces without interacting with these surfaces. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a novel particle detection system capable of detecting electrons, positive ions and negative ions. The conventional particle detectors utilize ion-to-electron converters and are configured to allow positive ion interaction with the conversion surfaces of the converter while preventing negative ion and electron interaction with such surfaces. However, with the conventional approach, negative ions pass through a detector and impinge directly upon the surface of a scintillator element thus shortening the scintillator element surface life.

The invented approach provides for solving the above problem. Also, the invention provides for utilizing the ion-to-electron converter for converting electrons originating from a sample to secondary electrons, in addition to converting the positive and negative ions to electrons, thereby amplifying the number of electrons to be detected by the detector.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a charged particle detection device comprising an electric field generator configured and operable to create an electric field defining trajectories for charged particles of different types emitted from a sample as a result of the sample interaction with a particle beam, the emitted charged particles of different types being one of the following: electrons, positive ions and negative ions, an ion-to-electron converter having a conversion surface including a continuous interaction region oriented so as to intersect the trajectories of the charged particles of different types propagating from the sample, the conversion surface operative to emit electrons in response to the surface interaction with the charged particles of the different types, and an electron detector configured and operable to receive electrons from the converter and generate output data indicative thereof.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the conversion surface is curved or planar. Alternatively, the converter has a cross section of a right triangle geometry with a hypotenuse including the conversion surface with the continuous interaction region. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the electric field generator includes a voltage supply unit operable to provide electrical biasing of the converter and the electron detector to create a desired electric field. Additionally, the device includes a grid-like electrode accommodated upstream of the converter for directing the charged particles towards the interaction region. Moreover, the electric field generator includes a high voltage power supply and a voltage divider and is operable for performing electrical biasing of the grid, the converter and the electron detector by supplying voltage thereto. Additionally, the electric field generator includes a high voltage power supply operable in communication with an external voltage divider for performing electrical biasing of the grid, the converter and the electron detector by supplying voltage thereto. Moreover, the voltage divider includes at least two resisters.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention the electron detector includes a scintillator element surface. Additionally, the conversion surface has a non-planar shape selected to minimize detection efficiency inhomogeneity within the device.

There is thus provided in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention a charged particle detector device for detecting a charged particle emitted from a sample, the detector device including a converter defining a conversion surface with a continuous region of interaction of incident charged particles of different types including positive and negative ions and electrons, the conversion surface being adapted for emitting electrons in response to interaction with the charged particles of different types, and an electron detector for receiving electrons from the converter and generating output data indicative thereof. Additionally, the conversion surface is curved or planar.

There is thus provided in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention a charged particle detection system including a particle beam column for generating a particle beam for exciting a sample to thereby cause emission of charged particles of different types therefrom, the emitted charged particles including at least one positive ion, negative ion and electron, and a charged particle detection device for detecting the charged particles of different types and generating output data indicative thereof, the detection device including a converter defining a conversion surface with a continuous region of interaction of incident charged particles of different types including positive and negative ions and electrons, the conversion surface being adapted for emitting electrons in response to interaction with the charged particles of different types, and an electron detector for receiving electrons from the converter and generating output data indicative thereof.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the system includes an electric field generator configured and operable to create an electric field within the detection device defining trajectories for the charged particles of different types emitted from a sample as a result of the sample interaction with the particle beam, the continuous region of interaction of the conversion surface intersecting the trajectories of the charged particles of different types. Additionally, the conversion surface is curved or planar. Moreover, the system includes a grid-like electrode accommodated upstream of the converter to direct the charged particle emitted from the sample to the region of interaction. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the particle beam column includes a focused ion beam (FIB) column, a dual beam column operative to selectively emit a FIB or an electron beam, an electron beam column or a helium beam column. Additionally, the electron detector includes a scintillator element surface. Moreover, the conversion surface has a non-planar shape selected to minimize detection efficiency inhomogeneity within the particle detection device.

There is thus provided in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention a method for use in detecting charged particles of different types emitted from a sample, the method including creating an electric field in a path of charged particles of different types emitted from the sample so as to direct the charged particles of different types along a trajectory towards a charged particle converter, the charged particles of different types being one of the following a positive ion, a negative ion and an electron, providing a continuous interaction region of the converter oriented to intersect trajectories of the charged particles of the different types propagating towards the converter, the interaction region being responsive to the charged particle incidence thereon to emit electrons, and detecting the emitted electrons and generating output data indicative thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more folly from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a charged particle detection system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system constructed and operative in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated, by way of a block diagram, an example of a charged particle detection system 10 configured and operable according to the invention. System 10 comprises a charged particle detection device 12 configured according to the invention for detecting charged particle(s) 14 of different types emitted from a sample 16, and a particle beam column 18. Particle beam column 18 may comprise a focused ion beam (FIB) column, a dual beam column, an electron beam column, a helium beam column or any other suitable particle beam column. The charged particle detectable by detection device 12 is an electron, a positive ion or a negative ion. A particle beam 20, generated by column 18, irradiates the sample 16 causing charged particle (positive/negative ion and/or electron) emission from the sample 16. The emitted particle propagates towards detection device 12.

As will be described further below, the detection device 12 is operable in three modes for detecting positive and negative ions and electrons, respectively, depending on a generated electric field. The detection device 12 comprises a converter 26 for generating electrons 27 in response to interaction with incident charged particles 14, an electron detector 28, and a control unit 30. Optionally, the detection system 10 comprises a grid electrode 32 accommodated in the path of charged particles emitted from the same, e.g. upstream of the converter 26 with respect to propagation of the charged particle trajectories. Grid 32 may or may not be a constructional part of the detection device 12.

The control unit 30 comprises an electric field generator 38, which may be referred to as an electrical biasing assembly, configured and operable for creating an appropriate electric field within the detection device 12 to thereby define trajectories for charged particle (i.e. for positive and negative ion and for electron) propagation towards detector 28. Electric field generator 38 thus comprises a voltage supply unit (not shown) to supply/maintain appropriate voltages to converter 26 and detector 28 and also to grid 32 if such grid is used in the detection device 12.

The converter 26 has a charged particle conversion surface 40 which has a continuous surface interaction region R oriented to intersect the trajectories of charged particles of different types. Conversion surface 40 (at least within the interaction region R) is adapted for emitting electrons in response to interaction with incident charged particle(s). Electron detector 28 has a scintillator element surface 44 exposed to electron output from the converter 26. With such appropriately oriented continuous interaction region R, the electric field created within the detection device 12 defines an operational mode of the device to selectively allow detection of the charged particles of any type by the electron detector 28. It is appreciated that electron detector 28 may be of any suitable configuration for receiving electrons and generating output data indicative thereof. For example, a Multi-Channel-Plate (MCP) or a Solid State Diode (SSD) may be employed. Alternatively, a CHANNELTRON® detector may be employed and may be commercially available at Burle Industries, Inc. of 1000 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601-5688 U.S.A.

Detection device 12 thus operates as a triple mode particle detection device. As will be described more specifically further below, converter 26 is electrically biasable for selectively attracting a charged particle and electron detector 28 is electrically biasable with respect to converter 26 so as to detect the electron emitted from the conversion surface 40.

In a non-limiting example, the scintillator element surface 44 of the electron detector 28 may be set to a positive high potential typically in the range of approximately 7kV-12kV. The converter 26 may be set to a positive or negative potential with a fixed proportion factor relative to the grid 32. The fixed proportion factor may be larger than 1, such as approximately 1.4, for example.

The converter 26 and detector 28 (its scintillator element surface 44), as well as grid 32 if used, may be each set at a different electrical potential to create an appropriate electric field defining the trajectories of the different-type charged particles so as to selectively facilitate detection of a positive ion in a positive ion detection mode, a negative ion in a negative ion detection mode, and an electron in an electron detection mode. For example, to facilitate the positive ion detection mode, grid 32 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately -2.7 kV, converter 26 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately -3.8 kV and the scintillator element surface 44 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +10 kV. To implement the negative ion detection mode, grid 32 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +2.7 kV, converter 26 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +3.8 kV and the scintillator element surface 44 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +10 kV. In the electron detection mode, grid 32 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +1 kV, converter 26 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +1.4 kV and the scintillator element surface 44 may be set to an electrical potential of approximately +10 kV. It is appreciated that grid 32, if used, may be located at any suitable location. The provision of the grid 32 is optional. The desired electric fields can be created by appropriate potentials on the converter 26 and detector 28 (to ensure that a particle 14 emitted from a sample 16 impinges upon the conversion surface 40 of the converter 26, and also to ensure that electrons 27 from the converter 26 are directed to the detector 28). The following description comprises some specific but non limiting examples of the configuration of the detection system according to the invention.

Reference is made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system 100 constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Particle detection system 100 comprises a particle beam 102 generated by a beam column 104, and a charged particle detection device, also referred to as a triple mode particle detection device, which in the present example is located within a detection system chamber 106 having walls 108. The particle beam 102 generated by column 104 irradiates a sample 110 thus urging one or more charged particles 114 to be emitted therefrom. The emitted charged particles 114 may comprise an electron, positive ion and/or a negative ion. As indicated above, beam column 104 may comprise a focused ion beam (FIB) column, a dual beam column, an electron beam column, a helium beam column or any other suitable particle beam column.

A particle detection device 120 is enclosed in a housing 124 formed of any suitable conductive material. Preferably, housing 124 is set to an electrical potential of the detection system chamber 106. Optionally, a grid 130 is provided in the detection device, e.g. being mounted to walls 134 and 138 of the housing 124 in any suitable manner, e.g. using mounting elements 140 and 142. Mounting elements 140 and 142 may be formed of any suitable material, typically an insulating material, such as Ertalyte® which may be commercially available at Modern Plastics of 678 Howard Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Housing 124 has an aperture 150 in its wall 134 for a charged particle 114 to pass therethrough. Thus, charged particle 114 is urged to pass the housing aperture 150 and reach grid 130 while the electric field in the detection device is such as to attract the particle towards the grid 130 (the grid 130 is electrically biased at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 114 thereto). Grid 130 may be formed of any suitable conductive material, such as stainless steal. The grid 130 may define a planar surface 152 or any other suitable geometry, such as a curved surface, a mash, an array of spaced apart elements or any configuration operative to allow a particle to pass therethrough.

The charged particle 114 passes grid 130, via a grid space/aperture 156, preferably configured at a central location of planer surface 152, and propagates to a converter 160. Converter 160 may have any suitable configuration such that a conversion surface 164 thereof, or at least an interaction region R thereof, is located in the propagation path of the charged particles of different types. As seen in Fig. 2, a cross section of converter 160 may have a right triangle geometry with conversion surface 164 defined by a hypotenuse surface between side supports 168. Converter 160 may include a bottom support 170, thus defining a converter vicinity 172 therein for charged particle passage therethrough away from the conversion surface 164. Bottom support 170 is formed with an aperture 180 for charged particle passage therethrough towards the conversion surface 164. Converter 160 may be mounted to housing 124 in any suitable manner, such as by a mounting element 174 affixing conversion surface 164 to housing wall 138. Mounting element 174 may be formed of any suitable material, typically an insulating material, such as Ertalyte® which may be commercially available at Modern Plastics of 678 Howard Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Any suitable material for allowing high electron emission may be used for the conversion surface 164 of converter 160, such as aluminum covered by a thin layer of aluminum oxide, for example.

A control unit (Fig. 1), namely its electric field generator operates to create an appropriate electric field to direct charged particle 114 towards the converter 160, Le. converter 160 is electrically biased at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 114 thereto such that the charged particle 114 passes aperture 180 and impinges upon conversion surface 164 within the interaction region R at its surface side 192. Consequentially, a plurality of electrons 194 are emitted from conversion surface 164 at the same surface side 192. Thus, converter 160 operates as an ion-to-electron converter whereupon the charged particle 114 is a positive ion or a negative ion. Additionally, the same conversion surface operates as a particle 114 amplifier. For example, three electrons 194 may be emitted upon impingement of a single particle 114 on conversion surface 164. The so-emitted electrons 194 pass vicinity 172 and propagate towards a scintillator element surface 200 of an electron detector 210. The scintillator element surface 200 may be coupled to a light sensor, such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) 214 via a light guide 216 thereby yielding an electrical signal from electron detector 210. As described hereinabove, the grid 130, converter 160 and scintillator element surface 200 are electrically biased so as to create an electric field capable of urging charged particle 114 of a specific type emitted from sample 110 to pass grid 130 onto converter 160 and to attract resultant electrons emitted from converter 160 to scintillator element surface 200. It should be understood that grid 130, converter 160 and scintillator element surface 200 may be electrically biased in any suitable manner. Also, provision of grid 130 is optional. In the case no grid is used the electric field is defined by voltage on the converter 160 and scintillator element surface 200.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, an electrical biasing assembly 218 of control unit comprises a switchable high voltage power supply 220 coupled to a first voltage feedthrough 222 in electrical communication with scintillator element surface 200 so as to electrically bias scintillator element surface 200, and a switchable high voltage bipolar power supply 230 coupled to a second and a third voltage feedthrough 232 and 234, respectively, via a voltage divider 240. Second voltage feedthrough 232 is in electrical communication with converter 160 so as to electrically bias converter 160, and third voltage feedthrough 234 is in electrical communication with grid 130 so as to electrically bias grid 130.

It is appreciated that electrical biasing assembly 218 may be configured in any suitable configuration, such as will be exemplified hereinbelow with reference to Fig. 3. Alternatively, a plurality or single voltage power supply may be provided. The control unit may be located within particle detection system 100 or may be located externally to particle detection system 100 and is in electrical communication therewith. Additionally, the voltage power supply and/or the voltage divider may be located within particle detection system 100 or may be located externally to particle detection system 100 and are in electrical communication therewith. The converter 160 (and also grid 130 if used) is positioned relative to sample 110 and is electrically biased so as to ensure that a charged particle 114 emitted from sample 110 is attracted to the interaction region R within the conversion surface of converter 160. Additionally, the converter 160 (and grid 130 if used) may be positioned relative to sample 110 and the converter 160 and scintillator element surface 200 are electrically biased so as to ensure that a charged particle 114 impinges upon the interaction region within the conversion surface 164 at a location where an attraction force generated by scintillator element surface 200 is greatest so as to ensure that a resultant electron emitted from conversion surface 164 is attracted to scintillator element surface 200. This location, designated by reference numeral 250 in Fig. 2, is proximal to the scintillator element surface 200.

It is appreciated that grid 130 may be located at any suitable location inside or outside the housing 124. Additionally, grid 130 may be obviated and converter 160 may be thus electrically biased so as to ensure that a particle 114 emitted from sample 110 will impinge upon conversion surface 164.

It is noted that features described in reference to Fig. 1 may be identical to features described in reference to Fig. 2. Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system 300 constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Particle detection system 300 comprises a particle beam 302 generated by a particle beam column 304 which in the present example is located within a detection system chamber 306 defined by chamber walls 308, and a triple mode particle detection device. The particle beam 302 generated by column 304 irradiates a sample 310 thus causing a charged particle 314 to be emitted therefrom. The charged particle 314 may be an electron, positive ion or a negative ion. Beam column 304 may comprise an FIB column, a dual beam column, an electron beam column, a helium beam column or any other suitable particle beam column. Triple mode particle detection device 320 comprises a housing 324, and optionally comprises a grid 330 which may be located inside or outside the housing 324. The housing is formed of any suitable conductive material, and is preferably set to an electrical potential of the detection system chamber 306. In the present example, grid 330 is located inside the housing 324 being appropriately mounted to housing walls 334 and 338, e.g. using mounting elements 340 and 342. Charged particle 314 is directed, by electric field in the detection device, to pass a housing aperture 350 in wall 334 and reach grid 330 which is electrically biased at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 314 thereto. As indicated above, grid 330 may be formed of any suitable conductive material, such as stainless steal, and may define any suitable configuration such as a planar surface or a curved surface 352 allowing a particle 314 to pass through grid aperture/space 356. The latter is preferably configured at a central location of planer surface 352.

Charged particle 314 passes through grid 330 toward a converter 360. Converter 360 may have any suitable configuration. As exemplified in Fig. 3, converter 360 has a geometry similar to that of Fig. 2, namely having a right triangle cross section with a conversion surface 364, defined by a hypotenuse surface, between side supports 368. Converter 360 may include a bottom surface 370 thus defining a converter vicinity therein 372 for charged particle passage therethrough away from the conversion surface 364. Bottom support 370 is formed with an aperture 380 for charged particle passage therethrough towards the conversion surface 364. Converter 360 may be mounted to housing 324 by a mounting element 374 affixing conversion surface 364 to housing wall 338. Any suitable material for allowing high electron emission may be used for the conversion surface of converter 360, such as aluminum covered by a thin layer of aluminum oxide, for example.

Converter 360 is electrically biased at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 314 thereto such that the charged particle 314 passes aperture 380 and impinges upon conversion surface 364. Consequentially, a plurality of electrons 390 are emitted from conversion surface 364 at the same surface side 392 onto which the charged particle 314 was incident. Thus, converter 360 operates as an ion-to-electron converter whereupon the charged particle 314 is a positive ion or a negative ion. Additionally, the same conversion surface operates as a particle 314 amplifier. For example, three electrons 390 may be emitted upon impingement of a single particle 314 on conversion surface 364.

Electrons 390 pass vicinity 372 and impinge upon a scintillator element surface 400 of an electron detector 410. The scintillator element surface 400 may be coupled to a light sensor, such as a PMT 414 via a light guide 416 thereby yielding an electrical signal from electron detector 410.

As described hereinabove, converter 360 and scintillator element surface 400 (and also grid 330 if used) are electrically biased so as to cause a charged particle 314 emitted from sample 310 to pass to converter 360 (e.g. through grid 330) and to attract resultant electrons emitted from converter 360 to scintillator element surface 400. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, an electrical biasing assembly 418 comprises a switchable high voltage power supply 420 coupled to a first voltage feedthrough 422 in electrical communication with scintillator element surface 400 so as to electrically bias scintillator element surface 400, and a switchable high voltage power supply 430 coupled to a second voltage feedthrough 432 which is in electrical communication with converter 360. Resistors 440 and 442 may be provided so as to allow voltage fed via voltage feedthrough 432 to be divided between grid 330 and converter 360 in order to electrically bias them. As seen in Fig. 3, resistors 440 are interconnected between housing 324 and second voltage feedthrough 432. Resistor 440 may be of approximately 2.5GΩ resistance and resistor 442 may be of approximately 1GΩ resistance. It is appreciated that a multiplicity of resistors may be utilized and may be located at various locations within detection device 320 at various degrees of resistance.

Thus, the converter 360 is positioned relative to sample 310 and is electrically biased to ensure that a particle 314 emitted from sample 310 will be attracted to converter 360 (e.g. assisted by grid 330) and thereby impinge upon conversion surface 364. Additionally, the converter 360 (and grid 330) may be positioned relative to sample 310 and electrically biased to ensure that a particle 314 interacts with the conversion surface 364 at a location wherein an attraction force generated by scintillator element surface 400 is greatest so as to ensure that a resultant electron emitted from converter 360 is attracted to scintillator element surface 400. This location 450 is proximal to the scintillator element surface 400. As indicated above, grid 330 may be located at any suitable location inside or outside the housing 324. Additionally, grid 330 may not be used at all and converter 360 may be thus electrically biased so as to ensure that a particle 314 emitted from sample 310 interacts with conversion surface 364.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system 500 constructed and operative in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. Particle detection system 500 is configured generally similar to the above-described examples, namely comprising a particle beam 502 generated by a particle beam column 504 and a triple mode particle detection device 520. Column 504 may comprise an FIB column, a dual beam column, an electron beam column, a helium beam column or any other suitable particle beam column. Column 504 is located within a detection system chamber 506 defined by chamber walls 508, and operates to generate particle beam 502 to irradiate a sample 510 thus causing emission of a charged particle 514 (an electron, positive ion or a negative ion) from the sample 510.

Similar to the above examples, the detection device 520 has a housing 524 (formed of any suitable conductive material and is preferably set to an electrical potential of the detection system chamber 506) having an aperture 550 defined within a wall 534, optionally comprises a grid 530 (e.g. mounted to housing walls 534 and 538 by respective mounting elements 540 and 542), and comprises an electron detector 610. Charged particle 514 is urged to pass through aperture 550 towards grid 530, electrically biased at an appropriate potential operative to attract the charged particle 514 thereto, and to pass through a grid aperture/space 556 (e.g. at a central location of a planer surface 552 of the grid 530) to a converter 560. In the present non-Umiting example, converter 560 has a curved conversion surface 564 between side supports 568. Converter 560 may include a bottom surface 570 defining a converter vicinity 572 for charged particle passage therethrough away from the conversion surface 564. Bottom support 570 is formed with an aperture 580 for charged particle passage therethrough towards the conversion surface 564. Converter 560 may be mounted to housing 524 by a mounting element 574 affixing conversion surface 564 to housing wall 538. Conversion surface 564 may be made of any suitable material allowing high electron emission therefrom, such as aluminum covered by a thin layer of aluminum oxide, for example.

In order to create an appropriate electrical field within the detection device, converter 560 is electrically biased at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 514 thereto such that the charged particle 514 passes aperture 580 and impinges upon conversion surface 564 at its surface side 592 resulting in emission of a plurality of electrons 590 from conversion surface 564 at the same surface side 592. Thus, converter 560 operates as an ion-to-electron converter whereupon the charged particle 514 is a positive ion or a negative ion. Additionally, the same conversion surface operates as a particle 514 amplifier. For example, three electrons 590 may be emitted upon impingement of a single particle 514 on conversion surface 564.

Electrons 590 pass vicinity 572 and impinge upon a scintillator element surface 600 of electron detector 610. As indicated above, the scintillator element surface 600 may be coupled to a light sensor, such as a PMT 614 via a light guide 616 thereby yielding an electrical signal from electron detector 610.

As described hereinabove, converter 560 and scintillator element surface 600 (and grid 530 if used) are electrically biased so as to direct a charged particle 514 emitted from sample 510 towards an interaction region within the conversion surface of converter 560 (e.g. via grid 530) and to attract resultant electrons 590, emitted from converter 560, to scintillator element surface 600. Converter 560 and scintillator element surface 600 (and grid 530 if used) may be electrically biased using an electrical biasing assembly 618 comprising a switchable high voltage power supply 620 coupled to a first voltage feedthrough 622 in electrical communication with scintillator element surface 600 so as to electrically bias scintillator element surface 600, and a switchable high voltage bipolar power supply 630 coupled to a second and a third voltage feedthrough 632 and 634, respectively, via a voltage divider 640. Second voltage feedthrough 632 is in electrical communication with converter 560 so as to electrically bias it, and third voltage feedthrough 634 is in electrical communication with grid 530 so as to electrically bias grid 530.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the conversion surface 564 may be shaped so as to minimize inhomogeneities in a detection efficiency of the charged particles 514 irrespective of their location along an interaction region R of the conversion surface 564. The detection efficiency is defined as the conversion factor of a charged particle 514 impinging on conversion surface 564, i.e. the number of electrons 590 emitted from conversion surface 564 per single impinging charged particle 514, multiplied by the extraction efficiency of the emitted electrons 590, Le. the probability that an emitted electron 590 will impinge on the scintillator element surface 600. It should be understood that the attraction force of the scintillator element surface 600 defined by the electrical field generated by the scintillator element surface 600 in the detection device may decrease as the detection distance, i.e. the distance of a location on the conversion surface 564 from the scintillator element surface 600, increases. Thus, the extraction efficiency may decrease as the detection distance increases and in turn the detection efficiency may be inhomogenous along conversion surface 564.

In order to compensate for the decreasing extraction efficiency, the conversion surface 564 is shaped so as to increase the conversion factor as the detection distance increases. Generally, the conversion factor may increase as a grazing angle of a particle 514 impinging on the conversion surface 564 decreases. Thus by forming the conversion surface 564 as a concave surface, wherein the grazing angle decreases as the detection distance increases, the conversion factor will increase as the detection distance increases and thus the detection efficiency inhomogeneity along the conversion surface 564 is minimized.

Turning to Fig. 4, it is seen that due to the curvature of the conversion surface 564, at a location 660 on conversion surface 564, which is in relative proximity to the scintillator element surface 600, the grazing angle 664 of a particle 666 impinging on conversion surface 564 is relatively large. Accordingly, at a location 670 on conversion surface 564, which is in relative distance to the scintillator element surface 600, the grazing angle 674 of a particle 676 impinging on conversion surface 564 is relatively small, thus the efficiency inhomogeneity along the conversion surface 564 is minimized. In a non-limiting example, upon impingement of potassium particles on a conversion surface formed of aluminum oxide, the conversion factor at a normal incidence angle is 5.27 and increases to 19.75 wherein the grazing angle is 10°.

It is appreciated that the curvature of the conversion surface 564 may be determined in accordance with the specific parameters, such as the detection distance, for example, of a given particle detection system. This can be achieved by simulating impingement of particles on a conversion surface within a given particle detection system so as to determine the optimal conversion surface curvature operative to provide a homogenous detection efficiency along the conversion surface.

It is further noted that the curvature of conversion surface 564 may be formed with a constant radius of curvature or, alternatively, with a variable radius of curvature.

As indicated above, grid 530 may be located at any suitable location inside or outside the housing 524, and may not be used at all, in which case converter 560 is appropriately electrically biased to ensure that a charged particle 514 emitted from sample 510 will impinge upon conversion surface 564.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a simplified sectional illustration of a particle detection system 700 constructed and operative in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. Particle detection system 700 comprises a particle beam 702 generated by a particle beam column 704, which may comprise an FIB column, a dual beam column, an electron beam column, a helium beam column or any other suitable particle beam column. Column 704 is located within a detection system chamber 706 defined by chamber walls 708, and operates to generate particle beam 702 to irradiate a sample 710 thus causing emission of a charged particle 714 (an electron, positive ion or a negative ion) from the sample 710.

A detection device 720 comprises a housing 724 (formed of any suitable conductive material and is preferably set to an electrical potential of the detection system chamber 706), a grid 730 (the provision of which is optional) mounted to housing walls 734 and 738 by respective mounting elements 740 and 742, a converter 760 and an electron detector 810. The charged particle 714 is directed to pass a housing aperture 750 defined within wall 734 towards grid 730 due to an appropriate electric field obtained by electrically biasing the grid 730 at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 714 thereto. The charged particle 714 passes grid 730 to converter 760, via a grid aperture 756, preferably configured at a central location of planer surface 752 defined by grid 730. Converter 760 may be formed with a conversion surface 764 defining a substantially planar continuous interaction region R. The planar conversion surface 764 is seen in Fig. 5 to be generally perpendicular to a scintillator element surface 770 described in further detail hereinbelow. Converter 760 may be mounted to housing 724 by a mounting element 774 affixing conversion surface 764 to housing wall 738.

Converter 760 is electrically biased at a potential operative to attract the charged particle 714 thereto such that the charged particle 714 impinges upon conversion surface 764 at its surface side 792, and a plurality of electrons 790 are emitted from said surface side 792. Thus, converter 760 operates as an ion-to-electron converter whereupon the charged particle 714 is a positive ion or a negative ion. Additionally, the same conversion surface operates as a particle 714 amplifier. For example, three electrons 790 may be emitted upon impingement of a single particle 714 on conversion surface 764.

Electrons 790 impinge upon scintillator element surface 770 of electron detector 810. The scintillator element surface 770 may be coupled to a light sensor, such as a photomultiplier tube 814 via a light guide 816 thereby yielding an electrical signal from electron detector 810.

Converter 760 and scintillator element surface 770 (and grid 730 if used) are electrically biased so as to force a charged particle 714 emitted from sample 710 to pass to the interaction region R within the conversion surface of converter 760 and to attract resultant electrons 790 emitted from converter 760 to scintillator element surface 770. Converter 760 and scintillator element surface 770 (and grid 730 if used) are appropriately electrically biased to create a desired electric field defining the trajectories of the emitted charged particle to interact with the converter. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 an electrical biasing assembly 818 comprises a switchable high voltage power supply 820 coupled to a first voltage feedthrough 822 in electrical communication with scintillator element surface 770 so as to electrically bias scintillator element surface 770, and a switchable high voltage bipolar power supply 830 coupled to a second and a third voltage feedthrough 832 and 834, respectively, via a voltage divider 840. Second voltage feedthrough 832 is in electrical communication with converter 760 so as to electrically bias converter 760 and third voltage feedthrough 834 is in electrical communication with grid 730 so as to electrically bias grid 730.

The converter 760 (and grid 730) may be positioned relative to sample 710 and may be electrically biased to ensure that a charged particle 714 emitted from sample 710 will be attracted to the interaction region R of converter 760. Additionally, the converter 760 (and grid 730) may be positioned relative to sample 710 and may be electrically biased to ensure that a charged particle 714 interacts with the conversion surface 764 at a location wherein an attraction force generated by scintillator element surface 770 is greatest so as to ensure that a resultant electron emitted from converter 760 is attracted to scintillator element surface 770. This location 850 is proximal to the scintillator element surface 770.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the specifications and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

1. A charged particle detection device comprising: an electric field generator configured and operable to create an electric field defining trajectories for charged particles of different types emitted from a sample as a result of the sample interaction with a particle beam, the emitted charged particles of different types being one of the following: electrons, positive ions and negative ions; an ion-to-electron converter having a conversion surface comprising a continuous interaction region oriented so as to intersect the trajectories of the charged particles of different types propagating from the sample, said conversion surface operative to emit electrons in response to the surface interaction with the charged particles of different types; and an electron detector configured and operable to receive electrons from the converter and generate output data indicative thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said conversion surface is curved or planar.

3. A device according to claim I₅ wherein the converter has a cross section of a right triangle geometry with a hypotenuse comprising said conversion surface with the continuous interaction region.

4. A device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the electric field generator comprises a voltage supply unit operable to provide electrical biasing of the converter and the electron detector to create a desired electric field.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1-4, comprising a grid-like electrode accommodated upstream of the converter for directing the charged particles towards said interaction region.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the electric field generator comprises a high voltage power supply and a voltage divider and is operable for performing electrical biasing of said grid, said converter and said electron detector by supplying voltage thereto.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the electric field generator comprises a high voltage power supply in communication with an external voltage divider for performing electrical biasing of said grid, said converter and said electron detector by supplying voltage thereto.

8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said voltage divider comprises at least two resisters.

9. A device according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein said electron detector comprises a scintillator element surface.

10. A device according any one of claims 1-9, wherein the conversion surface has a non-planar shape selected to miriimize detection efficiency inhomogeneity within said device.

11. A charged particle detector device for detecting a charged particle emitted from a sample, the detector device comprising: a converter defining a conversion surface with a continuous region of interaction of incident charged particles of different types comprising positive and negative ions and electrons, said conversion surface being adapted for emitting electrons in response to interaction with the charged particles of different types; and an electron detector for receiving electrons from the converter and generating output data indicative thereof.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said conversion surface is curved or planar.

13. A charged particle detection system comprising: a particle beam column for generating a particle beam for exciting a sample to thereby cause emission of charged particles of different types therefrom, the emitted charged particles comprising at least one positive ion, negative ion and electron; and a charged particle detection device for detecting the charged particles of different types and generating output data indicative thereof, the detection device comprising: a converter defining a conversion surface with a continuous region of interaction of incident charged particles of different types, said conversion surface being adapted for emitting electrons in response to interaction with the charged particles of different types; and an electron detector for receiving electrons from the converter and generating output data indicative thereof.

14. A system according to claim 13, comprising an electric field generator configured and operable to create an electric field within the detection device defining trajectories for the charged particles of different types emitted from said sample as a result of the sample interaction with said particle beam, said continuous region of interaction of the conversion surface intersecting the trajectories of the charged particles of different types.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said conversion surface is curved or planar.

16. A system according to claim 14 or 15, comprising a grid-like electrode accommodated upstream of the converter to direct the charged particles emitted from the sample to said region of interaction.

17. A system according to any one of claims 13-16, wherein the particle beam column comprises a focused ion beam (FIB) column, a dual beam column, an electron beam column or a helium beam column.

18. A system according to any one of claims 13-17, wherein said electron detector comprises a scintillator element surface.

19. A system according any one of claims 13-18, wherein said conversion surface has a non-planar shape selected to minimize detection efficiency inhomogeneity within said particle detection device.

20. A method for use in detecting charged particles of different types emitted from a sample, the method comprising: creating an electric field in a path of charged particles of different types emitted from the sample so as to direct the charged particles of different types along a trajectory towards a charged particle converter, said charged particles of different types being one of the following: a positive ion, a negative ion and an electron; providing a continuous interaction region of the converter oriented to intersect trajectories of the charged particles of different types propagating towards the converter, said interaction region being responsive to the charged particle incidence thereon to emit electrons; and detecting the emitted electrons and generating output data indicative thereof.