Patent ID: 6218663
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
An ion-etching device for ion thinning of a sample in a sample region of a transmission electron microscope having an objective lens and comprising an ion source for the production of an ion beam and an ion lens, a secondary electron detector for the production of an ion scan secondary electron image of the sample surface with the assistance of secondary electrons released by scanning ion irradiation and for positioning the ion beam via the ion scan secondary electron image onto a particular sample location, such that when the objective lens is switched-on the sample location can be observed simultaneously with the ion scan secondary electron image and with the electron beam of the transmission electron microscope in transmission wherein the ion energy is less than 5 keV and the ion beam in the vicinity of the objective lens travels in the objective plane of the objective lens and wherein, by taking into consideration the deflection of the ions of the magnetic field of the objective lens, the introduction of the ion beam into a magnetic sector field of the objective lens through which the ions pass is chosen in such a fashion that for the compensation of the influence of the magnetic field of the objective lens the magnetic sector field through which the ions pass deflects the ions along a curved path onto the particular sample location in a defined manner.