Patent ID: 6888136
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. Method for obtaining a particle-optical image of a sample in a particle-optical device, in which, successively: the sample which has been put in a frozen state, is subjected in a vacuum environment to a milling operation using an ion beam, a cooled surface opposing the sample surface has been provided in the vacuum environment, the temperature of the frozen sample being higher than that of the opposing surface, said milling operation causing a pre-selected cross-section of the sample to be exposed; the temperature difference between the sample and the opposing surface is increased, which increase of the temperature difference leads to sublimation of the exposed cross-section of the sample; creating an image during the sublimation process of at least a part of the exposed cross-section of the sample with the aid of a scanning focused electron beam.