Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

Objects such as semiconductor wafers to be studied in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) are subject to vibrations which are intensified by vibration resonance of the (thin) wafer, so that the resolution of the SEM is severely degraded. In prior art it is known to support the wafer by means of elastic support members. However, such support members do not counteract the detrimental vibrations. According to the invention there are provided elastic support elements 28 that can accommodate to the inevitable shape errors of the wafer 18 and hence remain in contact with the wafer surface 32. Moreover, the support elements are embodied in such a manner that frictional contact exists between the moving part 38 of the support element and the body 34 of the object carrier 20. The support elements thus provide support which is elastic for macroscopic support but hard for the vibrational movements in the nanometer range, thus inhibiting such vibrational movements.