Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An electron beam apparatus comprising:an electron source for generating a primary electron beam;a magnetic immersion objective lens configured to focus the primary electron beam onto a surface of a target substrate;a pole piece of the magnetic immersion objective lens;an electrostatic deflector including a plurality of plates configured within the pole piece;an electrostatic lens field determined by the pole piece and the electrostatic deflector, wherein the electrostatic lens field is configured to be controllably adjusted by applying DC offset voltages to all of the plates of the electrostatic deflector;a top shunt configured within the pole piece above the electrostatic deflector such that the primary electron beam passes through an opening in the top shunt before passing through the electrostatic deflector,wherein a high voltage is applied to the pole piece, andwherein the top shunt is conductively connected to an electrical ground. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a time-varying voltage is also applied to at least one plate of the electrostatic deflector so as to controllably scan the primary electron beam over an area of the target substrate. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein secondary electrons are emitted from the target substrate due to impingement of the primary electron beam, and wherein the electrostatic lens field collimates the secondary electrons on their way towards a detector. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a gap of the pole piece extends away from an optical axis of the objective lens so that the surface of the target substrate is immersed in a magnetic field. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to adjust the offset voltages applied to the plates of the electrostatic deflector. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top shunt is a conical shunt. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a bottom shunt configured within the pole piece below the electrostatic deflector such that the primary electron beam passes through an opening in the bottom shunt after passing through the electrostatic deflector,wherein the bottom shunt is conductively connected to the electrical ground. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top shunt is a conical shunt, and wherein the bottom shunt is a conical or straight shunt. 9. An objective lens utilizing magnetic and electrostatic fields which is configured to focus a primary electron beam onto a surface of a target substrate, the objective lens comprising:a magnetic pole piece;an electrostatic deflector configured within the pole piece;an electrostatic lens field determined by the pole piece and the electrostatic deflector, wherein the electrostatic lens field is configured to be controllably adjusted by applying DC offset voltages to all plates of the electrostatic deflector;a top shunt configured within the pole piece above the electrostatic deflector such that the primary electron beam passes through an opening in the top shunt before passing through the electrostatic deflector,wherein a high voltage is applied to the pole piece, andwherein the top shunt is conductively connected to an electrical ground. 10. The objective lens of claim 9, wherein a time-varying voltage is also applied to at least one plate of the electrostatic deflector so as to controllably scan the primary electron beam over an area of the target substrate. 11. The objective lens of claim 10, wherein secondary electrons are emitted from the target substrate due to impingement of the primary electron beam, and wherein the electrostatic lens field collimates the secondary electrons on their way towards a detector. 12. The objective lens of claim 9, wherein a gap of the pole piece extends away from an optical axis of the objective lens so that the surface of the target substrate is immersed in a magnetic field. 13. The objective lens of claim 9, further comprising:a bottom shunt configured within the magnetic pole piece below the electrostatic deflector such that the primary electron beam passes through an opening in the bottom shunt after passing through the electrostatic deflector,wherein a high voltage is applied to the magnetic pole piece, andwherein the top and bottom shunts are conductively connected to an electrical ground. 14. The objective lens of claim 13, wherein the top shunt is a conical shunt, and wherein the bottom shunt is a conical or straight shunt. 15. A method of focusing an electron beam onto a target specimen, the method comprising:applying a high voltage on a magnetic pole piece;applying electrical ground to a top shunt within the magnetic pole piece;adjusting DC offset voltages applied to a main deflector which is below the top shunt within the magnetic pole piece, the DC offset voltages being adjusted so as to fine tune an electrostatic lens field determined by the DC offset voltages on the deflector and the high voltage on the magnetic pole piece surrounding the deflector; andpassing the electron beam through an opening in the top shunt and through the main deflector. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method is applied to a magnetic immersion objective lens. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnetic immersion objective lens is configured within an apparatus for automated inspection or review of manufactured substrates. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:applying electrical ground to a bottom shunt below the main deflector within the magnetic pole piece; andpassing electron beam through an opening in the bottom shunt.