Patent ID: 6080986
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
A secondary ion mass spectrometer for analyzing a specimen (1) including a primary ion source (4) for the emission and focussing of a beam of primary ions on a desired location on the surface of the specimen (1), secondary ion optics (5) for the extraction of secondary ions emitted by the specimen (1), a mass spectrometer and a detector for secondary ions, comprising:a mask (3), which is not part of the secondary ion optics (5), having an aperture (3A) for passage of the primary ions and secondary ions and arranged very near to the surface of the specimen (1) to be analyzed in such a way, so that the mask (3) and the specimen (1) may be shifted laterally with respect to each other, and wherein the outer dimension of the mask (3) being larger than the field of view of the secondary ion optics (5).