Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A sample holder apparatus for reducing the energy of charged particles entering an annular-acceptance analyzer, the apparatus comprising:an electrically isolated sample support member having a sample receiving surface to receive a sample and electrically connect the sample to the sample support member, wherein the sample support member is configured for application of a retarding bias potential; anda grounded sample aperture member defining an aperture, wherein the grounded sample aperture member is positioned relative to the sample support member but electrically isolated therefrom such that the aperture is proximate the sample receiving surface to expose at least a portion of a surface of a sample received thereon to be analyzed, wherein the grounded sample aperture member along with the sample support member produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture when a retarding bias potential is applied thereto that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grounded sample aperture member along with the sample support member produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture when a retarding bias potential is applied thereto that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer and further that modifies the trajectories of such emitted particles such that they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer in a predetermined range of input elevation angles. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retarding bias potential is a positive retarding bias potential provided by a voltage source. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a circular aperture. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically isolated sample support member comprises a body member extending along an axis terminating in the sample receiving surface configured to receive a sample, and further wherein the grounded sample aperture member comprises a wall surrounding the body member but electrically isolated therefrom, wherein the wall is terminated by an end portion defining a circular aperture, wherein the end portion is positioned relative to the sample receiving surface but electrically isolated therefrom such that the aperture is proximate the sample receiving surface to expose at least a portion of a surface of a sample received thereon to be analyzed. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sample aperture member comprises an aperture plate defining the aperture, wherein the aperture plate is configured to allow movement between the aperture and the sample receiving surface. 7. A method for reducing the energy of charged particles entering an annular-acceptance analyzer, the method comprising:providing an electrically isolated sample support member having a sample receiving surface to receive a sample and electrically connect the sample to the sample support member, wherein the sample support member is configured for application of a retarding bias potential;positioning a grounded sample aperture member defining an aperture relative to the sample support member but electrically isolated therefrom such that the aperture is proximate the sample receiving surface to expose at least a portion of a surface of a sample received thereon to be analyzed; andapplying a retarding bias potential to the sample support member to produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying a retarding bias potential to the sample support member comprises applying a retarding bias potential to the sample support member to produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer and further that modifies the trajectories of such emitted particles such that they enter the cylindrical mirror analyzer in a predetermined range of input elevation angles. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrical retarding field about the aperture comprises a planar portion proximate the surface of the sample to be analyzed and a spherical portion farther from the surface of the sample to be analyzed. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises controlling the relative amounts of the planar portion of electrical retarding field and spherical portion of the electrical retarding field. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the retarding bias potential is a positive retarding bias potential. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrical retarding field is confined to a region in proximity to the aperture. 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing a sample on the sample receiving surface that includes a surface to be analyzed that protrudes through and above the aperture. 14. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing a sample on the sample receiving surface that includes a surface to be analyzed that is flush with the aperture. 15. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing a sample on the sample receiving surface that includes a surface to be analyzed that is below the aperture. 16. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises moving one of the aperture defined by the grounded sample aperture member and the sample receiving surface relative to the other. 17. The method of claim 7, wherein applying a retarding bias potential to the sample support member comprises applying a retarding bias potential to the sample support member to produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture that reduces the energy of high energy emitted particles having kinetic energies greater than 3200 eV such that the energy of at least a portion of the high energy emitted particles is less than 3200 eV before they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer. 18. An analyzer system for use in analyzing a sample, wherein the system comprises:an analyzer apparatus comprising a full or partial annular-acceptance input opening to receive emitted particles from the sample;an electrically isolated sample support member having a sample receiving surface to receive a sample and electrically connect the sample to the sample support member, wherein the sample support member is configured for application of a retarding bias potential from a source; anda grounded sample aperture member defining an aperture, wherein at least a portion of the grounded sample aperture member is positioned between the annular-acceptance input opening of the analyzer apparatus and the sample support member such that the aperture is proximate the sample receiving surface to expose at least a portion of a surface of a sample received thereon to be analyzed, wherein the sample support member is electrically isolated from the grounded sample aperture member, and further wherein the grounded sample aperture member along with the sample support member produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture when a retarding bias potential is applied thereto that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter the annular-acceptance opening. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the grounded sample aperture member along with the sample support member produce an electrical retarding field about the aperture when a retarding bias potential is applied thereto that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer and further that modifies the trajectories of such emitted particles such that they enter the annular-acceptance analyzer in a predetermined range of input elevation angles. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the aperture is a circular aperture.