PATENT ABSTRACT
An electron microscope is offered that is capable of achieving noise cancellation which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed. An electron microscope ( 1 ) associated with the present invention includes: an electron beam source ( 11 ) for producing an electron beam; a noise detector ( 4 ) for detecting a part of the beam to thereby produce a beam detection signal and dividing a dividend by the beam detection signal; at least one image signal detector ( 6 ) for detecting an image signal obtained by making the beam impinge on a sample (A); and an arithmetic section ( 60 ) for performing a multiplication between an output signal of the image signal detector ( 6 ) and an output signal of the noise detector ( 4 ).

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electron microscope and also to a method of operating it. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, electrons emitted from a field-emission electron gun contain a varying portion of several percent for the following reason. Gases and ions are adsorbed onto the surface of the emitter and migrate, varying the work function of the metal surface. Also, collision of ions and so on varies the geometry of the metal surface. Therefore, where a field-emission electron gun is used in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), a detector for noise cancellation is mounted in the electron optical column to detect nearby electrons that form a probe. The signal emitted from the sample is divided by the resulting detection signal, whereby emission noise on the image is eliminated. This noise canceling technique is disclosed, for example, in JP-A-5-307942. 
         [0005]      FIG. 15  shows the configuration of a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)  101  having a general noise cancellation function. This electron microscope  101  of  FIG. 15  has an electron optical column  110  in which various components including a cold field-emission electron gun (CFEG)  111 , a noise canceling aperture  112 , a lens  113   a,  scan coils  113   b,  another lens  114 , a detector  115 , a preamplifier circuit  120 , and an amplifier circuit  130  are housed. 
         [0006]    The electron beam emitted from the CFEG  111  is partially cut off by the noise canceling aperture  112  and then converged onto a sample A by the lens  113   a.  The converged beam is scanned over the sample A by the scan coils  113   b.  The electron beam transmitted through the sample A passes through the lens  114 , and a part of the beam is detected by the detector  115 . 
         [0007]    An image signal detected by the detector  115  is the product of an emission current I 1  impinging on the sample A and the brightness component S of the sample A, i.e., I 1 ×S. The emission current I 1  impinging on the sample A and the emission current I 2  detected by the noise canceling aperture  112  have a proportional relationship, i.e., I 1 =n×I 2 . An offset is added to the image signal (I 1 ×S) and the resulting signal is amplified by a factor of Gp by the preamplifier circuit  120 . The amplified signal is further amplified by a factor of Ga by the amplifier circuit  130 . 
         [0008]    On the other hand, the emission current I 2  detected by the noise canceling aperture  112  is amplified by a factor of Gn by a noise detection circuit  140 . When the noise cancellation function is not used, the output signal of the amplifier circuit  130  bypasses a noise canceling circuit  150  and is arithmetically processed in a given manner by an arithmetic section (CPU)  160  and then sent to a personal computer (PC)  102 . As a result, an STEM image of the sample A is displayed on a display unit for use with the PC  102 . 
         [0009]    When the noise cancellation function is used, the offset component added by the preamplifier circuit  120  is subtracted from the output signal of the amplifier circuit  130  by the noise canceling circuit  150 . Then, the resulting signal is divided by the output signal of the noise detection circuit  140 . Consequently, the emission noise contained in the image signal is removed. The image signal free of the emission noise is arithmetically processed in a given manner by the arithmetic section (CPU)  160  and sent to the personal computer (PC)  102 . An STEM image of the sample A free of the emission noise is displayed on the display unit for use with the PC  102 . 
         [0010]      FIG. 16  shows a specific example of configuration of signal processing circuitry when the electron microscope  101  is in a mode of operation where the noise cancellation function is not used. As shown in this figure, when the noise cancellation function is not in use, STEM imaging is done fundamentally using only two adjustments, i.e., contrast and brightness. Contrast is a gain added to an image signal for adjusting the brightness. Brightness is a DC voltage applied to cancel out the offset component of the image signal. In the example of  FIG. 16 , with respect to the image signal S×I 1  obtained from the detector  115  by adjusting the contrast, brightness B is added to the image signal S×I 1  by an adder  122  in the preamplifier circuit  120  and then amplified by the factor of Gp by an amplifier  124 . Therefore, the output signal V 11  of the amplifier  124  is given by 
         [0000]        V   11   =Gp ×( S×I 1 +B )   (A)
 
         [0011]    The output signal V 11  of the amplifier  124  is amplified by the factor of Ga by an amplifier  132  in the amplifier circuit  130 . Thus, from Eq. (A) above, the output signal V 12  of the amplifier  132  is given by 
         [0000]        V   12   =Ga×Gp ×( S×I 1 +B )   (B)
 
         [0012]    The output signal V 12  of the amplifier  132  is converted from analog to digital form by an analog to digital converter (ADC)  162  in the arithmetic section  160 , then averaged or otherwise arithmetically processed, and sent to the PC  102  shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0013]    On the other hand,  FIG. 17  shows a specific example of configuration of signal processing circuitry when the electron microscope  101  is in a mode of operation where the noise cancellation function is used. As shown in this figure, also when the noise cancellation function is used, the output signal V 12  of the amplifier  132  is given by Eq. (B) above. In order to cancel out the brightness B added by the preamplifier circuit  120 , an amplifier  151  of the noise canceling circuit  150  adds a gain equal to the product of the gain Gp of the amplifier  124  and the gain Ga of the amplifier  132  to the brightness B. A subtractor  152  subtracts the output of the amplifier  151  from the output signal V 12  of the amplifier  132 . Accordingly, it is seen from Eq. (B) above that the output signal V 13  of the subtractor  152  is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           V 
                           13 
                         
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             Ga 
                             × 
                             Gp 
                             × 
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 
                                   S 
                                   × 
                                   I 
                                    
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                    
                                   1 
                                 
                                 + 
                                 B 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                           - 
                           
                             Ga 
                             × 
                             Gp 
                             × 
                             B 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           Ga 
                           × 
                           Gp 
                           × 
                           S 
                           × 
                           I 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           1 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   C 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0014]    The emission current I 2  detected by the noise canceling aperture  112  is converted into a voltage and amplified by the factor of Gn by an amplifier  142  in the noise detection circuit  140 . Therefore, the output signal V 14  of the amplifier  142  is given by 
         [0000]        V   14   =Gn×I 2   (D)
 
         [0015]    The output signal V 13  of the subtractor  152  is applied to a numerator input (X) of a divider circuit  154 . The output signal V 14  of the amplifier  142  is applied to a denominator input (Y) of the divider circuit  154 . Accordingly, from Eqs. (C) and (D), the output signal V 15  of the divider circuit  154  is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     V 
                     15 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       X 
                       Y 
                     
                     = 
                     
                       
                         
                           V 
                           13 
                         
                         
                           V 
                           14 
                         
                       
                       = 
                       
                         
                           Ga 
                           × 
                           Gp 
                           × 
                           S 
                           × 
                           I 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           1 
                         
                         
                           Gn 
                           × 
                           I 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   E 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0016]    In the noise canceling circuit  150 , in order to subtract the output signal of the amplifier  151  from the output signal V 12  of the amplifier  132  by the subtractor  152 , an amplifier  155  adds a gain equal to the product of the gain Gp of the amplifier  124  and the gain Ga of the amplifier  132  to the brightness B. An adder  156  adds the output of the amplifier  155  to the output signal V 15  of the divider circuit  154 . Therefore, the output signal V 16  of the adder  156  is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           V 
                           16 
                         
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             
                               Ga 
                               × 
                               Gp 
                               × 
                               S 
                               × 
                               I 
                                
                               
                                   
                               
                                
                               1 
                             
                             
                               Gn 
                               × 
                               I 
                                
                               
                                   
                               
                                
                               2 
                             
                           
                           + 
                           
                             Ga 
                             × 
                             Gp 
                             × 
                             B 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             S 
                             × 
                             
                               
                                 Ga 
                                 × 
                                 Gp 
                               
                               Gn 
                             
                             × 
                             
                               
                                 I 
                                  
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                  
                                 1 
                               
                               
                                 I 
                                  
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                  
                                 2 
                               
                             
                           
                           + 
                           
                             Ga 
                             × 
                             Gp 
                             × 
                             B 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   F 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0017]    The output signal V 16  of the adder  156  is converted from analog to digital form by the analog to digital converter  162  in the arithmetic section  160 , then averaged or otherwise arithmetically processed, and sent to the PC  102  shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0018]    Substituting the equation, I 1 =n×I 2 , into Eq. (F) results in 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     V 
                     16 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       S 
                       × 
                       
                         
                           Ga 
                           × 
                           Gp 
                         
                         Gn 
                       
                       × 
                       n 
                     
                     + 
                     
                       Ga 
                       × 
                       Gp 
                       × 
                       B 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   G 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0019]    Note that none of the emission currents I 1  and I 2  containing emission noise are present in the right side of Eq. (G). Consequently, when the noise cancellation function is used, a value proportional to the brightness component S of the sample S to be imaged and observed is obtained in the same way as when there is no emission noise. 
         [0020]    In the example of  FIG. 17 , operations for removing and re-adding brightness and a division operation are performed by analog circuitry. Alternatively, these operations may be carried out by digital arithmetic operations. In this case, measurement and setting of the gain of brightness that is removed and re-added and other adjustments can be made automatically. 
         [0021]    The related art noise canceling method described so far has the following problems. 
         [0022]    First, where the division is performed with an analog circuit (herein referred to as the analog division method), it is necessary to constitute log (logarithm) circuits and an antilog circuit.  FIG. 18  shows one example of configuration of the divider circuit  154  using log circuits  154   a,    154   b  and an antilog circuit  154   c.  As shown in  FIG. 18 , the divider circuit  154  performs a division using analog signals by performing a logarithmic conversion by the log circuits  154   a,    154   b,  then subtracting the output signal of the log circuit  154   b  from the output signal of the log circuit  154   a,  and performing a logarithmic conversion of the resulting difference by the antilog circuit  154   c.    
         [0023]    In the analog division method, it is necessary to constitute the log circuits  154   a,    154   b  and antilog circuit  154   c  operating in a frequency bandwidth of several MHz corresponding to the speed at which the image signal is detected and so the amount of noise component increases steeply. However, this frequency bandwidth is required for signals of STEM images and, therefore, it is difficult to limit the bandwidth subsequently. The antilog circuit  154   c  has a high gain, and it is difficult to broaden the frequency bandwidth due to the effects of noise. 
         [0024]    On the other hand, where divisions are performed by digital computations (herein referred to as the digital division method), divisions are slower to perform than other types of calculations. As a result, the frequency bandwidth is narrowed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems. One object associated with some aspects of the present invention is to provide an electron microscope capable of implementing a noise cancellation process which achieves a low level of noise and which can be operated at high speed. Another object is to provide a method of operating this electron microscope. 
         [0026]    (1) An electron microscope associated with the present invention comprises: an electron beam source for producing an electron beam; a noise detector for detecting a part of the electron beam to thereby produce a beam detection signal and dividing a dividend by the beam detection signal; at least one image signal detector for detecting an image signal obtained by making the electron beam impinge on a sample; and an arithmetic section for performing a multiplication between an output signal of the image signal detector and an output signal of the noise detector. 
         [0027]    In this electron microscope, the dividend is divided by the beam detection signal in the noise detector. The image signal is detected by the image signal detector. The arithmetic section performs a multiplication between the output signal of the noise detector and the output signal of the image signal detector. Consequently, the image signal neither passes through any divider circuit nor undergoes a division operation relying on digital computations. This makes it unnecessary for the noise detector to constitute a divider circuit having a frequency bandwidth, for example, corresponding to the speed at which an image signal is detected. Hence, noise can be suppressed. Furthermore, the image signal detector can be made higher in operation without being limited by the speed at which a division operation is performed. Thus, this electron microscope can achieve a noise cancellation process which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed. 
         [0028]    (2) In one feature of this electron microscope, the arithmetic section may perform the multiplication by a digital arithmetic operation. 
         [0029]    This electron microscope can achieve a noise cancellation process which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed. 
         [0030]    (3) In another feature of this electron microscope, the noise detector may include a divider circuit that divides the dividend by the beam detection signal in an analog manner. 
         [0031]    In this electron microscope, the image signal does not pass through any divider circuit. This makes it unnecessary to constitute a divider circuit having a frequency bandwidth corresponding to the speed at which the image signal is detected. Therefore, low-noise parts having a narrow frequency bandwidth, for example, can be used to form the divider circuit. Moreover, a filter having a narrow bandwidth, for example, for suppressing noise generated from the divider circuit can be inserted. Thus, this electron microscope can achieve a noise cancellation process which results in a still lower level of noise. 
         [0032]    (4) In a further feature of this electron microscope, the dividend may be an effective value of the beam detection signal. 
         [0033]    With this electron microscope, images can be observed without regard to the manner in which the emission current decreases with time. Therefore, with this electron microscope, if a cold cathode field-emission electron gun is used as an electron beam source, images free of emission noise can be observed by performing operations similar to operations done when a Schottky emission gun is used. 
         [0034]    (5) In an additional feature of this electron microscope, the at least one image signal detector may be plural in number. The arithmetic section may perform multiplications between output signals of the plural image signal detectors and the output signal of the noise detector. 
         [0035]    In this electron microscope, divisions are performed in the noise detectors. In the arithmetic section, multiplication operations are performed without performing division operations. Therefore, in the arithmetic section, the load incurred in arithmetically processing the output signals of the image signal detectors can be reduced, for example, as compared with the case where a division operation is performed on each of the output signals of the image signal detectors. Consequently, if this electron microscope has plural image signal detectors, the processing load on the arithmetic section can be reduced. When the output values from the plural image signal detectors are entered, they can be arithmetically processed in parallel and simultaneously. 
         [0036]    (6) A method of operating an electron microscope in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of: detecting a part of an electron beam generated by an electron beam source to thereby produce a beam detection signal and dividing a dividend by the beam detection signal (may also be referred to as the noise detecting step); making the electron beam impinge on a sample to produce an image signal and detecting the image signal (may also be referred to as the image signal detecting step); and performing a multiplication between an output signal produced from the image signal detecting step and an output signal produced from the noise detecting step (may also be referred to as the computing step). 
         [0037]    In this method of operating an electron microscope, during the noise detecting step, the dividend is divided by the beam detection signal. During the image signal detecting step, the image signal is detected. During the computing step, a multiplication between the output signal produced from the noise detecting step and the output signal produced from the image signal detecting step is performed. As a result, the image signal neither passes through any divider circuit nor undergoes a division operation relying on digital computations. Consequently, in this method of operating an electron microscope, a noise cancellation process which results in a low level of noise and which can be performed at high speed can be accomplished. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electron microscope associated with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry included in the microscope shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0040]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are waveform diagrams of signals appearing at nodes of an image signal detector included in the microscope shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0041]      FIGS. 4A-4D  are waveform diagrams of signals appearing at nodes of a noise detector included in the microscope shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a waveform diagram showing one example of how emission current varies with time. 
           [0043]      FIG. 6A  is a waveform diagram of a noise signal. 
           [0044]      FIG. 6B  is a waveform diagram of one example of the output signal of an effective value computing circuit. 
           [0045]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry according to a first modification of the first embodiment. 
           [0046]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry according to a second modification of the first embodiment. 
           [0047]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry according to a third modification of the first embodiment. 
           [0048]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an electron microscope associated with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of a multi-segmented STEM detector for use in the electron microscope shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry included in the microscope shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram of an electron microscope associated with a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry included in the microscope shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0053]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) having a general noise cancellation function. 
           [0054]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram of one specific example of signal processing circuitry incorporated in a conventional electron microscope, and in which the microscope is in a mode of operation where the noise cancellation function is not used and an illustration of electric circuitry associated with the noise cancellation is omitted. 
           [0055]      FIG. 17  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 16 , but in which the microscope is in a mode of operation where the noise cancellation function is used. 
           [0056]      FIG. 18  is a block diagram of one example of a divider circuit using log circuits and an antilog circuit. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that the embodiments provided below do not unduly restrict the scope and content of the present invention delineated by the appended claims and that not all the configurations described below are essential constituent components of the invention. 
       1. First Embodiment 
     1.1. Electron Microscope 
       [0058]    An electron microscope associated with a first embodiment of the present invention is first described by referring to  FIG. 1 , which shows one example of configuration of the electron microscope,  1 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electron microscope  1  is configured including an electron optical column  10 , a noise detection circuit  40 , an A/D converter  50 , and an arithmetic section (CPU)  60 . Housed in the electron optical column  10  are an electron beam source  11 , a noise canceling aperture  12 , an illumination lens system  13   a,  scan coils  13   b,  an imaging lens system  14 , an image detector  15 , a preamplifier circuit  20 , an amplifier circuit  30 , and so on. 
         [0060]    In the electron microscope  1 , the noise canceling aperture  12  and the noise detection circuit  40  together constitute a noise detector  4  for detecting emission noise. Also, the image detector  15 , preamplifier circuit  20 , amplifier circuit  30 , and A/D converter  50  together constitute an image signal detector  6  for detecting an image signal (STEM image signal). 
         [0061]    The electron microscope  1  is a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Other components such as various lenses and apertures are housed in the electron optical column  10  but their description and illustration are omitted below. Some of the components of the electron microscope  1  of the present embodiment which are shown in  FIG. 1  may be omitted or replaced by other parts. Also, additional components may be added to this microscope. 
         [0062]    An electron beam emitted from the electron beam source  11  is partially cut off by the noise canceling aperture  12  and then focused onto a sample A by the lens system  13   a.  The focused electron beam (also referred to as an electron probe) is scanned over the sample A by the scan coils  13   b.  A well-known electron gun such as a cold cathode field-emission gun (CFEG) can be used as the electron beam source  11 . 
         [0063]    The electron beam transmitted through the sample A passes through the lens system  14 , and a part of the beam is detected as an image signal by the image detector  15 . The image signal is the product of the emission current I 1  impinging on the sample A and the brightness component S of the sample A, i.e., I 1 ×S. 
         [0064]    The noise canceling aperture  12  detects the emission current (noise signal). By way of example, any one (such as condenser lens (CL) apertures) of the illumination apertures disposed between the electron beam source  11  and the sample A in the electron optical column  10  may be used also as the noise canceling aperture  12 . A dedicated noise canceling aperture  12  apart from the illumination apertures may also be mounted. 
         [0065]    The noise detection circuit  40  creates a signal for removing the emission noise from the image signal, based on the emission current  12  detected by the noise canceling aperture  12 . 
         [0066]    The arithmetic section  60  removes (more precisely, reduces) the noise signal superimposed on the output signal of the amplifier circuit  30  that has been converted from analog to digital form by the A/D converter  50  by making use of the fact that there is a proportional relationship between the emission current I 1  impinging on the sample A and the emission current I 2  detected by the noise canceling aperture  12  (i.e., I 1 =n×I 2 , where n is a proportional constant). Then, the signal free of the noise signal is arithmetically processed in a given manner by the arithmetic section  60  and then sent to the personal computer (PC)  2 . An STEM image of the sample A is displayed on the display unit for use with the PC  2  and stored in it. 
       1.2. Signal Processing Circuitry of the Electron Microscope 
       [0067]      FIG. 2  shows a specific example of configuration of signal processing circuitry for use in the electron microscope according to the first embodiment. In  FIG. 2 , those components or configurations which are identical to their respective counterparts shown in  FIG. 1  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0068]    In the present embodiment, the image signal detector  6  is configured including the image detector  15 , preamplifier circuit  20 , amplifier circuit  30 , and A/D converter  50 .  FIGS. 3A-3C  show examples of signal waveform at various nodes of the image signal detector  6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0069]    In the present embodiment, the preamplifier circuit  20  is configured including an adder  22  and an amplifier  24 . 
         [0070]    The image signal S×I 1  (see  FIG. 3A ) obtained from the image detector  15  by adjusting the contrast is amplified by a factor of Gp by the amplifier  24  after brightness B is added by the adder  22 . Therefore, the output signal of the amplifier  24  (i.e., the output signal of the preamplifier circuit  20 ) V 1  (see  FIG. 3B ) is given by 
         [0000]        V   1   =Gp ×( S×I 1 +B )   (1)
 
         [0071]    Contrast is a gain added to the image signal to adjust the degree of brightness. In the present embodiment, contrast is set for the image detector  15 . Brightness is a DC voltage applied to cancel out the offset component of the image signal. In the present embodiment, brightness is set for the preamplifier circuit  20 . 
         [0072]    In the present embodiment, the amplifier circuit  30  is configured including an amplifier  32 . The output signal V 1  of the preamplifier circuit  20  is amplified by a factor of Ga by the amplifier  32 . Therefore, from Eq. (1), the output signal V 2  of the amplifier  32  (i.e., the output signal of the amplifier circuit  30 ) (see  FIG. 3C ) is given by 
         [0000]        V   2   =Ga×Gp ×( S×I 1 +B )   (2)
 
         [0073]    The output signal V 2  of the amplifier circuit  30  is converted from analog to digital form by the A/D converter  50  and applied to the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0074]    In the present embodiment, the noise detector  4  is configured including the noise canceling aperture  12  and the noise detection circuit  40 .  FIGS. 4A-4D  show examples of signal waveform at various nodes of the noise detector  4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0075]    The noise detection circuit  40  is configured including an amplifier  42 , an effective value computing circuit  44 , a divider circuit  46 , and an A/D converter  48 . 
         [0076]    The amplifier  42  converts the emission current I 2  (see  FIG. 4A ) detected by the noise canceling aperture  12  into a voltage and amplifies it by a factor of Gn. Therefore, the output signal (noise signal) V 3  (see  FIG. 4B ) of the amplifier  42  is given by 
         [0000]        V   3   =Gn×I 2   (3)
 
         [0077]    The effective value computing circuit  44  calculates the effective (RMS (root mean square)) value of the output signal V 3  of the amplifier  42  in real time within a preset time. For example, a general-purpose IC may be used as the effective value computing circuit  44 . 
         [0078]    The output signal (Gn×I 2 ) RMS  (see  FIG. 4C ) of the effective value computing circuit  44  is applied to the numerator input (X) of the divider circuit  46 , and the output signal V 3  of the amplifier  42  is applied to the denominator input (Y). The divider circuit  46  performs a division of the former signal by the latter. Thus, the output signal V 4  (see  FIG. 4D ) of the divider circuit  46  is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     V 
                     4 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       X 
                       Y 
                     
                     = 
                     
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             Gn 
                             × 
                             I 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             2 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         RMS 
                       
                       
                         Gn 
                         × 
                         I 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         2 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   4 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0079]    As one example, an analog circuit (see, for example,  FIG. 18 ) configured including log circuits and an antilog circuit can be used as the divider circuit  46 . That is, in the noise detector  4 , the divider circuit  46  divides the output signal of the effective value computing circuit  44  by the output signal of the amplifier  42  in an analog manner (i.e., a division using analog signals). 
         [0080]    The output signal V 4  of the divider circuit  46  is converted from analog to digital form by the A/D converter  48  and applied to the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0081]    An offset is applied to the image signal by the preamplifier circuit  20 , and the resulting signal is amplified by the amplifiers  24  and  32  to value (Gp×Ga×B). The arithmetic section  60  subtracts this value (Gp×Ga×B) from the output value of the A/D converter  50  using a digital computation. Consequently, brightness can be removed from the output value of the image signal detector  6 . 
         [0082]    The arithmetic section  60  performs a multiplication operation between the output value (Ga×Gp×S×I 1 ) of the image signal detector  6  from which brightness has been removed and the output value ((Gn×I 2 ) RMS /(Gn×I 2 )) of the A/D converter  48 . The result of this multiplication operation is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Ga 
                     × 
                     Gp 
                     × 
                     S 
                     × 
                     I 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     1 
                     × 
                     
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             Gn 
                             × 
                             I 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             2 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         RMS 
                       
                       
                         Gn 
                         × 
                         I 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         2 
                       
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       Ga 
                       × 
                       Gp 
                       × 
                       S 
                       × 
                       n 
                       × 
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             Gn 
                             × 
                             I 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             2 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         RMS 
                       
                     
                     Gn 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   5 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    where I 1 =n×I 2 . 
         [0083]    The emission currents I 1  and I 2  containing emission noise do not exist in the right side of Eq. (5) above. In this way, a value proportional to the brightness component S of the sample A to be imaged and observed is obtained using the noise cancellation function in the same way as when there is no emission noise. 
         [0084]    Using a DC component I 2   DC  and a noise component N, the emission current I 2  is given by 
         [0000]        I 2= I 2 Dc   +N    (6)
 
         [0085]    The output signal (Gn×I 2 ) RMS  of the effective value computing circuit  44  can be approximated by 
         [0000]      ( Gn×I 2) RMS   =Gn ×( I 2) RMS   ≅Gn×I 2 DC    (7)
 
         [0086]    Therefore, if Eqs. (6) and (7) are substituted into Eq. (5), the result of the multiplication operation, i.e., product, is approximated by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             Ga 
                             × 
                             Gp 
                             × 
                             S 
                             × 
                             n 
                             × 
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   Gn 
                                   × 
                                   I 
                                    
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                    
                                   2 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               RMS 
                             
                           
                           Gn 
                         
                          
                         
                           = 
                           ∼ 
                         
                          
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             Ga 
                             × 
                             Gp 
                             × 
                             S 
                             × 
                             n 
                             × 
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 Gn 
                                 × 
                                 I 
                                  
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                  
                                 
                                   2 
                                   DC 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                           Gn 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           Ga 
                           × 
                           Gp 
                           × 
                           S 
                           × 
                           n 
                           × 
                           I 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           
                             2 
                             DC 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   8 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0087]    In Eq. (8), I 2   DC  is an ideal DC current obtained by removing noise component N from the emission current I 2  and is an emission current detected when there is no emission noise. The equation, I 1 =I 2 ×n, leads to the fact that I 2   DC ×n corresponds to the ideal DC current I 1   DC  obtained by removing emission noise from the emission current I 1 . 
         [0088]    Accordingly, if the equation, I 2   DC ×n=I 1   DC , is substituted into Eq. (8), the result of the multiplication operation performed by the arithmetic section  60  is approximated by 
         [0000]        Ga×Gp×S×n×I 2 DC   =Ga×Gp×S×I 1 DC    (9)
 
         [0089]    After performing the above-described multiplication operation, the arithmetic section  60  adds the previously subtracted product (Ga×Gp×B) to the result of the multiplication (see Eq. (9)) using a digital computation. Consequently, brightness is re-added. The result of the addition operation is given by 
         [0000]      Ga×Gp×S×I1 DC   +Ga×Gp×B=Ga×Gp ×( S×I 1 DC   +B )   (10)
 
         [0090]    The arithmetic section  60  averages or otherwise arithmetically processes the result of re-addition of brightness (see Eq. (10) above) using a digital computation to generate image data and sends the image data to the PC  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . The PC  2  receives the image data generated by the arithmetic section  60 , writes the data into a frame buffer, displays an STEM image of the sample A, from which emission noise has been removed or reduced, on the display unit, stores the image, and performs other processing. 
         [0091]    The value of the ideal DC current I 1   DC  of Eq. (10) above is nearly equal to the emission current impinging on the sample A when there is no emission noise. Consequently, an STEM image can be observed by adjusting only two parameters, i.e., contrast and brightness, while maintaining constant Ga, Gp, Gn and the gain added to brightness that is removed and re-added. 
         [0092]    If the emission current decreases with time as shown in  FIG. 5 , the signal applied to the arithmetic section  60  always assumes the form given by Eq. (10). It is possible to continue to obtain a signal that is equal to the output signal V 2  of the amplifier circuit  30  (given by Eq. (2)) from which only noise has been removed. 
         [0093]    Where the electron microscope  1  can switch on and off the noise cancellation function in an unillustrated manner, Eq. (10) representing the output signal of the arithmetic section  60  is similar to Eq. (2) representing the signal applied to the arithmetic section  60  when the noise cancellation function is deactivated except that the emission current I 1  of Eq. (2) is replaced by I 1   DC . Therefore, it is not necessary to perform cumbersome operations whenever the noise cancellation function is switched on or off. 
         [0094]    The electron microscope  1  associated with the present embodiment has the following features. 
         [0095]    In the electron microscope  1 , the effective value of a noise signal is divided by the noise signal by means of the divider circuit  46  in the noise detector  4 . An image signal is detected in the image signal detector  6 . In the arithmetic section  60 , a multiplication between the output signal of the noise detector  4  and the output signal of the image signal detector  6  is performed. Thus, the image signal does not pass through the divider circuit  46 . 
         [0096]    As an example, where an image signal passes through a divider circuit, if an analog division is used, then it is necessary to constitute log and antilog circuits having frequency bandwidths of several MHz corresponding to the speed at which the image signal is detected. This presents the problem that the noise component is increased greatly. Furthermore, if a digital division is used, this division is slower to perform than other types of arithmetic operations with the consequent result that the frequency bandwidth is narrowed. 
         [0097]    In the electron microscope  1 , as described previously, an image signal does not pass through any divider circuit. This makes it unnecessary to form a divider circuit, for example, having a frequency bandwidth of several MHz corresponding to the speed at which the image signal is detected; otherwise, noise in the divider circuit would not be suppressed. Furthermore, in the electron microscope  1 , the speed of operation of the image signal detector  6  can be enhanced without being limited by the speed at which division operations are processed. Therefore, in the electron microscope  1 , the foregoing problems do no occur. Hence, noise canceling which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed can be accomplished. 
         [0098]    Furthermore, in the electron microscope  1 , the divider circuit  46  included in the noise detector  4  divides the effective value of the noise signal by the noise signal in an analog manner. As described above, the image signal does not pass through any divider circuit in the electron microscope  1  and so components making up the divider circuit  46  can be made separate from components making up the image signal detector  6 . Consequently, low-noise parts having narrow frequency bandwidths can be used as the components making up the divider circuit  46 . As a result, noise cancellation yielding a still lower level of noise can be accomplished. 
         [0099]    In this way, in the electron microscope  1 , the image signal detector  6  needing a bandwidth higher than several MHz and the noise detector  4  used in a frequency bandwidth up to several MHz are separated from each other by analog circuitry. As a consequence, noise cancellation which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed can be accomplished. 
         [0100]    In the electron microscope  1 , the effective value of a noise signal is computed by the effective value computing circuit  44  and used as a dividend used in the divider circuit  46 . This permits images to be observed without regard to the manner in which the emission current decreases with time as described previously. Therefore, in the electron microscope  1 , if a cold cathode field-emission, electron gun (CFEG) is used as the electron beam source  11 , images free from emission noise can be observed by performing operations similar to operations performed on a Schottky emission gun. 
         [0101]    As shown in  FIG. 6A , the output signal (noise signal) of the amplifier  42  contains long-term emission noises (low-frequency noises) (noises appearing during an interval from t 1  to t 2  in  FIG. 6A ) affecting plural successive lines of image and short-term emission noises (high-frequency noises) affecting only one line. Therefore, in the effective value computing circuit  44 , as the computation time to compute the effective value is reduced, the result of the computation of the effective value varies to a greater extent. As a result, the noise canceling performance will deteriorate. 
         [0102]    The computation time taken for the effective value computing circuit  44  to compute the effective value is preferably set longer than, for example, the time (several seconds) taken for the PC  2  to obtain one page of image (STEM images) of the sample A. In this case, even if there is long-term noise, for example, persisting from t 1  to t 2  as shown in  FIG. 6A , the output signal of the effective value computing circuit  44  varies only a little during the period from t 1  to t 3  as shown in  FIG. 6B . In consequence, the noise canceling performance will hardly deteriorate. 
       1.3. Modifications of Electron Microscope 
       [0103]    Modifications of the electron microscope associated with the present embodiment are next described. Only the differences with the above-described example of the electron microscope  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are described; a description of similarities is omitted. 
       (1) First Modification 
       [0104]    A first modification is first described.  FIG. 7  shows a specific example of configuration of signal processing circuitry according to the first modification of the first embodiment. In  FIG. 7 , those configurations which are identical to their respective counterparts of  FIG. 2  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 2  and a description thereof is omitted. The electron microscope associated with the first modification is similar in configuration to the microscope shown in  FIG. 1  and so its illustration and description is omitted. 
         [0105]    The electron microscope associated with the first modification is similar to the configuration of the electron microscope  1  (see  FIG. 2 ) associated with the first modification except that a filter  49  is inserted between the divider circuit  46  and the A/D converter  48  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0106]    The filter  49  has a narrow bandwidth of several kHz and can suppress noise generated in the divider circuit  46  (e.g., including log and antilog circuits). In the same way as in the above-described first embodiment, in the electron microscope associated with the present modification, the image signal detector  6  needing a bandwidth higher than several MHz and the noise detector  4  used in a bandwidth up to several MHz are separated from each other by analog circuitry and thus the image signal does not pass through the divider circuit  46 . For this reason, the filter having a narrow bandwidth for suppressing noise generated by the divider circuit  46  can be inserted. No limitation is imposed on the configuration of the filter  49 . Rather, any well-known filter circuit can be used. 
         [0107]    The electron microscope associated with the first modification can yield advantageous effects similar to those produced by the electron microscope  1  associated with the first embodiment. 
         [0108]    Furthermore, the electron microscope associated with the first modification can achieve noise cancellation giving rise to a still lower level of noise because the filter  49  can be inserted between the divider circuit  46  and the A/D converter  48 . 
       (2) Second Modification 
       [0109]    A second modification is next described.  FIG. 8  shows a specific example of configuration of signal processing circuitry in the second modification of the first embodiment. Those configurations of  FIG. 8  which are identical to their respective counterparts of  FIGS. 2 and 7  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIGS. 2 and 7  and a description thereof is omitted. The electron microscope associated with the second modification is identical in configuration to the microscope shown in  FIG. 1 , and its illustration and description is omitted. 
         [0110]    The electron microscope associated with the second modification is different from the configuration of the electron microscope  1  (see  FIG. 2 ) associated with the first embodiment in that A/D converters  48  and  50  are incorporated in the arithmetic section  60  and that the arithmetic section  60  filters the output values of the A/D converter  48  by digital computations as shown in  FIG. 8 . Consequently, in the second modification, noise generated by the divider circuit  46  can be suppressed by filtering operation of the arithmetic section  60  in the same manner as the above-described filter  49  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the first modification. 
         [0111]    The electron microscope associated with the second modification can yield advantageous effects similar to those produced by the electron microscope associated with the first modification. 
       (3) Third Modification 
       [0112]    A third modification is next described.  FIG. 9  shows a specific example of the configuration of signal processing circuitry in the third modification of the first embodiment. Those configurations of  FIG. 9  which are identical to their respective counterparts of  FIG. 2  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 2  and a description thereof is omitted. The electron microscope associated with the third modification is identical in configuration to the microscope shown in  FIG. 1  and thus its illustration and description is omitted. 
         [0113]    The electron microscope associated with the third modification is similar to the configuration of the electron microscope  1  (see  FIG. 2 ) associated with the first embodiment except that a constant Q is applied to the numerator input (X) of the divider circuit  46  instead of the output signal of the effective value computing circuit  44  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0114]    In the present modification, the noise detection circuit  40  is configured including amplifier  42 , divider circuit  46 , and A/D converter  48 . 
         [0115]    The constant Q is applied to the numerator input (X) of the divider circuit  46 , and the output signal V 3  (see Eq. (3) above) of the amplifier  42  is applied, to the denominator input (Y). The divider circuit  46  performs a division of the former signal by the latter. Accordingly, the output signal V 4  of the divider circuit  46  is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     V 
                     4 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       X 
                       Y 
                     
                     = 
                     
                       Q 
                       
                         Gn 
                         × 
                         I 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         2 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   11 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0116]    The output signal V 4  of the divider circuit  46  is converted from analog to digital form by the A/D converter  48  and applied to the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0117]    An offset is applied to the image signal by the preamplifier circuit  20 , and the resulting signal is amplified by amplifiers  24  and  32  to value (Gp×Ga×B). The arithmetic section  60  subtracts this value (Gp×Ga×B), i.e., a subtrahend, from the output value of the A/D converter  50  using a digital computation. The arithmetic section  60  performs a multiplication operation between the output value (Ga×Gp×S×I 1 ) of the image signal detector  6  from which brightness has been removed and the output value (Q/(Gn×I 2 )) of the A/D converter  48  using digital computations. The result of this multiplication operation is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Ga 
                     × 
                     Gp 
                     × 
                     S 
                     × 
                     I 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     1 
                     × 
                     
                       Q 
                       
                         Gn 
                         × 
                         I 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         2 
                       
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       Ga 
                       × 
                       Gp 
                       × 
                       S 
                       × 
                       n 
                       × 
                       Q 
                     
                     Gn 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   12 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    where I 1 =n×I 2 . 
         [0118]    Note that none of the emission currents I 1  and I 2  containing emission noise are present in the right side of Eq. (12). Consequently, when the noise cancellation function is used, a value proportional to the brightness component S of the sample S to be imaged and observed is obtained in the same way as when there is no emission noise. 
         [0119]    After performing the multiplication operation, the arithmetic section  60  operates to add the subtrahend (Ga×Gp×B) to the product of the multiplication (see Eq. (12) above) using a digital computation. The resulting sum is given by 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         Ga 
                         × 
                         Gp 
                         × 
                         S 
                         × 
                         n 
                         × 
                         Q 
                       
                       Gn 
                     
                     + 
                     
                       Ga 
                       × 
                       Gp 
                       × 
                       B 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     Ga 
                     × 
                     Gp 
                     × 
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         
                           
                             S 
                             × 
                             n 
                             × 
                             Q 
                           
                           Gn 
                         
                         + 
                         B 
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   13 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0120]    The arithmetic section  60  averages or otherwise arithmetically processes the sum (see Eq. (13) above) using digital computations to generate image data and sends the image data to the PC  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0121]    In the electron microscope associated with the third modification, the image signal does not pass through the divider circuit  46  in the same way as in the electron microscope  1  associated with the first embodiment and so noise cancellation which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed can be accomplished. 
       2. Second Embodiment 
       [0122]    An electron microscope associated with a second embodiment of the present invention is next described by referring to  FIG. 10 , which shows an example of configuration of this electron microscope. Those configurations of  FIG. 10  which are identical to their respective counterparts of  FIG. 1  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 1  and a description thereof is omitted. 
         [0123]    The electron microscope  1  associated with the second embodiment differs from the electron microscope  1  associated with the first embodiment in that the image detector  15  is replaced by a multi-segmented STEM detector  16  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0124]    The electron microscope  1  associated with the second embodiment has a plurality of distinct image signal detectors  6  corresponding to the detector segments of the multi-segmented STEM detector  16 . Each image signal detector  6  detects only electrons impinging on a certain detector area on the sensitive surface of the multi-segmented STEM detector  16 . This is equivalent to bringing the sensitive surface into coincidence with the diffraction plane in the electron microscope  1  so that electrons which are transmitted from the sample A into a certain solid angle region and scattered are detected. Therefore, the electron microscope  1  associated with the second embodiment can obtain information about the dependence of electrons scattered by the sample A on solid angle by the use of the multi-segmented STEM detector  16 . 
         [0125]      FIG. 11  shows one example of configuration of the multi-segmented STEM detector  16 . This detector  16  is configured including a scintillator  602 , an optical fiber bundle  604 , and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs)  606  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0126]    The scintillator  602  has a sensitive surface  603  that is partitioned into a plurality of detector segments radially and in the direction of deflection. In the illustrated example, the sensitive surface  603  of the scintillator  602  has 16 detector segments. However, no limitation is placed on the number of the detector segments. 
         [0127]    The optical fiber bundle  604  connects the detector segments of the scintillator  602  with the photomultiplier tubes  606 . Optical fibers making up the optical fiber bundle  604  transmit light outgoing from the detector segments of the scintillator  602  to respective ones of the photomultiplier tubes  606 . 
         [0128]    The photomultiplier tubes  606  receive light emerging from the detector segments of the scintillator  602  via the optical fiber bundle  604 . The photomultiplier tubes  606  have a 1:1 correspondence with the detector segments of the scintillator  602 . The same number (16 in the illustrated example) of photomultiplier tubes  606  as the detector segments of the scintillator  602  are connected with the optical fiber bundle  604 . 
         [0129]      FIG. 12  shows a specific example of configuration of the signal processing circuitry according to the second embodiment. Those configurations of  FIG. 12  which are identical to their respective counterparts of  FIG. 2  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 2  and a description thereof is omitted. 
         [0130]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , there are as many image signal detectors  6  as the detector segments of the scintillator  602 . For example, in the present embodiment, 16 image signal detectors  6  are mounted in a corresponding manner to 16 detector segments of the scintillator  602 . 
         [0131]    Each image signal detector  6  is configured including a respective one of the detector segments of the scintillator  602 , optical fiber for transmitting light emitted from this detector segment, a photomultiplier tube (PMT)  606 , a preamplifier circuit  20 , an amplifier circuit  30 , an A/D converter  50 . 
         [0132]    In the present embodiment, in each image signal detector  6 , brightness B is added by an adder  22  to an image signal S×I 1  obtained from the photomultiplier tube  606  for which contrast has been adjusted, and then the signal is amplified by a factor of Gp by an amplifier  24 . The output signal V 1  (see Eq. (1) above) of the preamplifier circuit is amplified by a factor of Ga by the amplifier  32 . The output signal V 2  (see Eq. (2) above) of the amplifier  32  is converted from analog to digital form by the AID converter  50  and applied to the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0133]    In the present embodiment, the output values of the A/D converters  50  are applied from the image signal detectors  6  to the arithmetic section  60 . That is, in the illustrated example, the output values of the A/D converters  50  are applied from the 16 image signal detectors  6  to the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0134]    An offset is applied to each image signal by the respective preamplifier circuit  20  and the resulting signal is amplified by the amplifiers  24  and  32  to value (Gp×Ga×B). This value (Gp×Ga×B), i.e., a subtrahend, is subtracted from the output values of the A/D converters  50  by the arithmetic section  60  using digital computations. The arithmetic section  60  performs, using a digital computation, a multiplication operation between the output value (Ga×Gp×S×I 1 ) of the respective image signal detector  6  undergone the subtraction and the output value ((Gn×I 2 ) RMS /(Gn×I 2 )) of the A/D converter  48 . Then, the arithmetic section  60  adds the subtrahend (Ga×Gp×B) to the resulting products using digital computations. The arithmetic section  60  averages or otherwise arithmetically processes the sums (see Eq. (10) above) using digital computations to generate image data and sends the data to the PC  2  shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0135]    In this way, in the second embodiment, the arithmetic section  60  performs the above-described arithmetic operations in parallel in response to inputting of the output values of the A/D converters  50  of the image signal detectors  6 . For example, if the number of the detector segments of the scintillator  602  increases and the number of the image signal detectors  6  increases, and if the arithmetic section performs heavy duty arithmetic processing such as divisions, load may become so great that the parallel processing may not be carried out. 
         [0136]    In the electron microscope associated with the second embodiment, a division is performed by the divider circuit  46  of the noise detector  4  and the arithmetic section  60  performs multiplication operations without performing a division operation, in the same way as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the arithmetic section  60 , load incurred in processing the arithmetic operations on the output signals of the image signal detectors  6  can be reduced, for example, as compared with the case where division operations are performed on the output signals of the image signal detectors  6 . Consequently, in the electron microscope associated with the second embodiment, even if there are plural image signal detectors  6 , the load on the arithmetic section  60  can be reduced. In response to inputting of the output values of the A/D converters  50  of the plural image signal detectors  6 , the arithmetic section  60  can arithmetically process the output values in parallel and simultaneously. 
       3. Third Embodiment 
       [0137]    An electron microscope associated with a third embodiment of the present invention is next described by referring to  FIG. 13 , which shows one example of configuration of this electron microscope. Those configurations of  FIG. 13  which are identical with their respective counterparts of  FIG. 1  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 1  and a description thereof is omitted. 
         [0138]    The electron microscope  1  associated with the third embodiment is similar to the electron microscope  1  associated with the first embodiment except that it has a dark-field detector  17  and a bright-field detector  18  as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0139]    The dark-field detector  17  has an annular scintillator, detects elastically scattered electrons scattered at large angles from the sample A, and outputs a dark-field image signal. 
         [0140]    The bright-field detector  18  has a disk-like scintillator, detects electrons passed through a hole formed in the center of the dark-field detector  17  and scattering electrons, and outputs a bright-field image signal. 
         [0141]    In the present embodiment, the bright-field detector  18  is disposed behind the dark-field detector  17 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the dark-field image signal and the bright-field image signal can be simultaneously accepted. 
         [0142]    In the present embodiment, there are two independent image signal detectors  6   a  and  6   b  corresponding to the two detectors  17  and  18 , respectively. Consequently, a bright-field image and a dark-field image can be observed simultaneously. 
         [0143]      FIG. 14  shows one specific example of configuration of signal processing circuitry according to the third embodiment. Those configurations of  FIG. 14  which are identical to their respective counterparts of  FIG. 2  are indicated by the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 2  and a description thereof is omitted. 
         [0144]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the first image signal detector  6   a  is configured including dark-field detector  17 , preamplifier circuit  20 , amplifier circuit  30 , and A/D converter  50 . 
         [0145]    In the first image signal detector  6   a,  a dark-field image signal S×I 1  for which brightness has been adjusted is obtained from the dark-field detector  17 . Brightness B is added to this signal by the adder  22 . Then, the resulting signal is amplified by a factor of Gp by the amplifier  24 . The output signal V 1  (see Eq. (1) above) of the preamplifier circuit is amplified by a factor of Ga by the amplifier  32 . The output signal V 2  (see Eq. (2) above) of the amplifier  32  is converted from analog to digital form by the A/D converter  50  and applied to the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0146]    The second image signal detector  6   b  is configured including bright-field detector  18 , preamplifier circuit  20 , amplifier circuit  30 , and A/D converter  50 . 
         [0147]    In the second image signal detector  6   b,  a bright-field image signal S×I 1  for which contrast has been adjusted is obtained from the bright-field detector  18 , in the same way as in the first image signal detector  6   a.  Brightness B is added to this signal by the adder  22 . The resulting signal is amplified by a factor of Gp by the amplifier  24 . The output signal V 1  (see Eq. (1) above) of the preamplifier circuit is amplified by a factor of Ga by the amplifier  32 . The output signal V 2  (see Eq. (2) above) of the amplifier  32  is converted from analog to digital form by the A/D converter  50  and impressed on the arithmetic section  60 . 
         [0148]    In the first image signal detector  6   a,  an offset is applied to the image signal by the preamplifier circuit  20 , and the resulting signal is amplified to value (Gp×Ga×B) by the amplifiers  24  and  30 . The arithmetic section  60  subtracts this value (Gp×Ga×B), i.e., a subtrahend, from the output value of the A/D converter  50  of the first image signal detector  6   a,  using a digital computation. The arithmetic section  60  then performs, using a digital computation, a multiplication operation between the output value (Ga×Gp×S×I 1 ) of the first image signal detector  6   a  from which brightness has been removed and the output value ((Gn×I 2 ) RMS /(Gn×I 2 )) of the A/D converter  48 . Then, the arithmetic section  60  adds the subtrahend (Ga×Gp×B) to the resulting product using a digital computation. The arithmetic section  60  averages or otherwise arithmetically processes the sum (see Eq. (10) above) using a digital computation to generate image data and sends the data to the PC  2  shown in  FIG. 13 . The PC  2  receives the image data generated by the arithmetic section  60 , displays a dark-field image of the sample A from which emission noise has been removed or reduced on a display unit, stores the image, and otherwise processes it. 
         [0149]    The arithmetic section  60  performs the above-described processing also on the output value of the A/D converter  50  of the second image signal detector  6   b.  The PC  2  displays the bright-field image of the sample A whose emission noise has been removed or reduced on the display unit, stores the image, and otherwise processes it. 
         [0150]    In the arithmetic section  60 , the arithmetic operation on the output value of the A/D converter  50  of the first image signal detector  6   a  and the arithmetic operation on the output value of the A/D converter  50  of the second image signal detector  6   b  are carried out in parallel and simultaneously. 
         [0151]    The electron microscope associated with the third embodiment can yield advantageous effects similar to those produced by the electron microscope associated with the second embodiment. 
       4. Other Embodiments 
       [0152]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to the foregoing embodiments but rather can be practiced in variously modified forms without departing from the gist and scope of the present invention. 
         [0153]    For example, in the electron microscope  1  associated with the first embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the output signal of the effective value computing circuit  44  is divided in an analog manner by the output signal of the amplifier  42  by means of the divider circuit  46  in the noise detector  4 . In the electron microscope associated with the third modification of the first embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the constant Q is divided in an analog manner by the output signal of the amplifier  42  by means of the divider circuit  46  in the noise detector  4 . In the electron microscope associated with the present invention, the dividend of the divider circuit  46  is not restricted to the above-described effective value of a noise signal or a constant. The dividend may be set to an average value of a noise signal or other value. Even in this case, according to the electron microscope associated with the present invention, noise cancellation which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed can be accomplished in the same way as in the above embodiments. 
         [0154]    Furthermore, in the above-described example of the electron microscope  1  associated with the first embodiment, analog circuitry configured including log and antilog circuits is described as the divider circuit  46  as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the electron microscope associated with the present invention, a general-purpose IC, for example, is used as the divider circuit  46 . That is, the noise detector  4  may divide the output signal of the effective value computing circuit  44  by the output signal of the amplifier  42  using a digital arithmetic operation. Similarly, in the above-described example of the electron microscope associated with the third modification of the first embodiment, an analog circuit is used as the divider circuit  46  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The noise detector  4  may divide the constant Q by the output signal of the amplifier  42  using a digital arithmetic operation. Even in this case, according to the electron microscope associated with the present invention, the image signal does not undergo any division operation using a digital arithmetic operation. Hence, noise cancellation which results in a low level of noise and which can be implemented at high speed can be accomplished in the same way as in the foregoing embodiments. 
         [0155]    In electron microscopes associated with the above-described embodiments, an offset is added to an image signal by the preamplifier circuit  20  for brightness adjustment as shown in FIG.  2  and a value equivalent to the offset is subtracted in the arithmetic section  60  prior to a multiplication, and the value which is equivalent to the offset and which was used as a subtrahend is added to the product. In the electron microscope associated with the present invention, no offset may be added in the preamplifier circuit  20 . A multiplication may be performed in the arithmetic section  60 . After this multiplication, i.e., after performing a noise canceling process, an offset for brightness adjustment may be added. Also, in this case, advantageous effects similar to those produced by the above embodiments can be obtained. 
         [0156]    In the description of the above embodiments, a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is taken as an example of electron microscope. The present invention can also be applied to other type of electron microscope such as a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Also, in this case, advantageous effects similar to those produced by the above embodiments can be had. 
         [0157]    It is to be noted that the above-described embodiments and modifications are merely exemplary and that the invention is not restricted thereto. For example, such embodiments and modifications may be appropriately combined. 
         [0158]    The present invention embraces configurations (e.g., configurations identical in function, method, and results or identical in purpose and advantageous effects) which are substantially identical to the configurations described in any one of the above embodiments. Furthermore, the invention embraces configurations which are similar to the configurations described in any one of the above embodiments except that their nonessential portions have been replaced. Additionally, the invention embraces configurations which are identical in advantageous effects to, or which can achieve the same object as, the configurations described in any one of the above embodiments. Further, the invention embraces configurations which are similar to the configurations described in any one of the above embodiments except that a well-known technique is added. 
         [0159]    Having thus described my invention with the detail and particularity required by the Patent Laws, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.