Patent Publication Number: US-2022230843-A1

Title: Operating a particle beam apparatus with an object holder

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of the German patent application No. 10 2020 122 535.0, filed on Aug. 28, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The system described herein relates to a method for operating a beam apparatus, in particular a particle beam apparatus and/or laser beam apparatus. The system described herein further relates to a computer program product and a beam apparatus for carrying out the method. Moreover, the system described herein relates to an object holder for an object. By way of example, the object holder is able to be arranged in a particle beam apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electron beam apparatuses, in particular a scanning electron microscope (also referred to as SEM below) and/or a transmission electron microscope (also referred to as TEM below), are used to examine objects (samples) in order to obtain knowledge with respect to the properties and the behavior under certain conditions. 
     In an SEM, an electron beam (also referred to as primary electron beam below) is generated by a beam generator and focused onto an object to be examined by way of a beam guiding system. The primary electron beam is guided in a raster manner over a surface of the object to be examined by way of a deflection device. Here, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the object to be examined. As a consequence of the interaction, in particular, electrons are emitted by the object (so-called secondary electrons) and electrons of the primary electron beam are backscattered (so-called backscattered electrons). The secondary electrons and backscattered electrons are detected and used for image generation. An image representation of the object to be examined is thus obtained. Further, interaction radiation, for example x-ray radiation and cathodoluminescence, is generated as a consequence of the interaction. The interaction radiation may be used to analyze the object. 
     In the case of a TEM, a primary electron beam is likewise generated by a beam generator and focused onto an object to be examined by a beam guiding system. The primary electron beam passes through the object to be examined. When the primary electron beam passes through the object to be examined, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the material of the object to be examined. The electrons passing through the object to be examined are imaged onto a luminescent screen or onto a detector (for example a camera) by a system consisting of an objective and a projection unit. Here, imaging may also take place in the scanning mode of a TEM. As a rule, such a TEM is referred to as a STEM. Additionally, provision can be made for detecting electrons backscattered at the object to be examined and/or secondary electrons emitted by the object to be examined by a further detector in order to image an object to be examined. 
     Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to use combination apparatuses for examining objects, where both electrons and ions can be guided onto an object to be examined. By way of example, it is known to additionally equip an SEM with an ion beam column. An ion beam generator arranged in the ion beam column generates ions that are used for preparing an object (for example ablating material of the object or applying material to the object) or else for imaging. The SEM serves here in particular for observing the preparation, but also for further examination of the prepared or unprepared object. 
     In a further known particle beam apparatus, applying material to the object is carried out for example using the feed of a gas. The known particle beam apparatus is a combination apparatus that provides both an electron beam and an ion beam. The particle beam apparatus includes an electron beam column and an ion beam column. The electron beam column provides an electron beam that is focused onto an object. The object is arranged in a sample chamber kept under vacuum. The ion beam column provides an ion beam that is likewise focused onto the object. By way of example, a layer of the surface of the object is removed by the ion beam. After the layer has been removed, a further surface of the object is exposed. Using a gas feed device, a gaseous precursor substance—a so-called precursor—can be admitted into the sample chamber. It is known to embody the gas feed device with an acicular device, which can be arranged very close to a position of the object at a distance of a few μm, such that the gaseous precursor substance can be guided to the position as accurately as possible and with a high concentration. As a result of the interaction of the ion beam with the gaseous precursor substance, a layer of a substance is deposited on the surface of the object. By way of example, it is known for gaseous phenanthrene to be admitted as gaseous precursor substance into the sample chamber using the gas feed device. Essentially a layer of carbon or a carbon-containing layer then deposits on the surface of the object. It is also known to use a gaseous precursor substance that includes metal in order to deposit a metal or a metal-containing layer on the surface of the object. However, the depositions are not limited to carbon and/or metals. Rather, arbitrary substances can be deposited on the surface of the object, for example semiconductors, non-conductors or other compounds. Furthermore, it is known for the gaseous precursor substance to be used for ablating material of the object upon interaction with a particle beam. 
     The application of material on the object and/or ablation of material from the object is used for arranging a marking on the object, for example. In the prior art, the marking is used, for example, for positioning the electron beam and/or the ion beam. 
     To carry out a high-resolution analysis of material structures in an object in a TEM or in an SEM with a transmission detector, it is known to prepare the object in such a way that the thickness of the object is less than 100 nm since the electrons of an electron beam have a range of typically 1000 nm in solid material in the case of a transmission of the electrons through the object. Upon entry into the object, the electrons typically have an energy of a few 10 keV to several 100 keV. The thickness of the object of less than 100 nm ensures that a predominant part of the electrons passes through the object and is able to be detected using a detector. 
     The prior art has disclosed a practice of processing the object using an ion beam in order to attain a thickness of the object of less than 100 nm, for example a thickness ranging from 1 nm to 80 nm or from 1 nm to 50 nm. The processing of the object using the ion beam can be observed by imaging the object using an electron beam. 
     A method, which is known from the prior art, for generating an object intended for examination with a TEM or with an SEM using a transmission detector is described below. Initially, a portion of a material piece with extents in the millimeter range, for example, is exposed using an ion beam and extracted from the material piece. By way of example, the portion has a thickness of a few micrometers (in particular 3 μm to 6 μm), for example, and a length of a few 10 μm (in particular 30 μm to 80 μm), for example. Subsequently, the portion is fastened to a micromanipulator and lifted out of the material piece. Thereupon, the portion is fastened to a TEM object holder (also referred to as a “TEM grid”). Using an ion beam guided to the portion, material of the portion is ablated until the portion or at least a region of the portion has a thickness of less than 100 nm. When ablating material from the portion, the TEM object holder is rotated about an axis of rotation, initially through 1° to 2° in a first direction from an initial position, in order to ensure good ablation of material on a first side of the portion. Then, the TEM object holder is rotated about the axis of rotation, through 1° to 2° in a second direction from the initial position, in order to ensure good ablation of material on a second side of the portion. The first side and the second side of the portion are arranged opposite to and spaced apart from one another. So that the TEM object holder is rotatable, the TEM object holder is arranged on a sample stage embodied to be movable. The sample stage includes mechanical movement units which facilitate a rotation of the TEM object holder. 
     In respect of the prior art, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 8,536,525 B2. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     On account of imprecision in the mechanism of the movement units of the sample stage, there can be an unwanted relative displacement of the position of the ion beam in relation to the portion in the case of a rotation of the TEM object holder about the axis of rotation. Expressed differently, following the rotation of the TEM object holder, the ion beam no longer strikes the portion arranged on the TEM object holder at the site on which the ion beam was focused prior to the rotation of the TEM object holder. In this case, the ion beam is readjusted and positioned in such a way in the prior art that the ion beam strikes the desired site on the portion in order to be able to ablate material. 
     The system described herein provides a method for operating a beam apparatus, a computer program product, a beam apparatus and an object holder, in which, following a movement of an object holder, a positioning of a particle beam of a particle beam apparatus or of a laser beam relative to an object arranged on the object holder is easily possible and, in particular, able to be carried out automatically. 
     According to the system described herein, a particle beam apparatus is operated to provide processing, imaging and/or analyzing of an object and/or a laser beam apparatus is operated to provide processing, imaging and/or analyzing of an object. By way of example, the particle beam apparatus may include at least one beam generator for generating a particle beam that includes charged particles. The charged particles are electrons or ions, for example. 
     In the method according to the system described herein, at least one marking is arranged on an object holder. Expressed differently, the marking is generated on the object holder. Arranging the marking on an object holder is implemented using a laser beam of a laser beam device and/or using at least one particle beam of a particle beam apparatus, where the particle beam includes charged particles. By way of example, provision is made for the laser beam device to be arranged on the particle beam apparatus. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the laser beam device to be a device that is separate from the particle beam apparatus. By way of example, provision is made for material to be ablated from and/or applied to the object holder using the laser beam device so that the marking is generated by the material ablation. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for material to be ablated from the object holder and/or for material to be applied to the object holder in such a way using the particle beam that the marking is generated by the ablation of material and/or the application of material. By way of example, a gas is fed to the object holder for the purposes of applying material and/or ablating material. The gas interacts with the particle beam and/or the laser beam in such a way that the material is applied to the object holder or material is ablated from the object holder. 
     The method according to the system described herein also includes an arrangement of at least one object on the object holder. By way of example, for the purposes of arranging the object on the object holder, material is applied to a connecting site between the object and the object holder such that the object is connected to the object holder. To this end, a gas and the particle beam are fed to the object in such a way in one embodiment that, on account of the interaction of the particle beam with the gas, material is applied to the connecting site. In addition or as an alternative thereto, a gas and the laser beam are fed to the object in such a way in a further embodiment that, on account of the interaction of the laser beam with the gas, material is applied to the connecting site. However, the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned embodiments of arranging the object on the object holder. Rather, any type of arrangement of the object on the object holder that is suitable is able to be used. 
     Further, the object holder, and hence also the object arranged on the object holder, is moved in the system described herein. By way of example, moving the object holder includes a translational movement of the object holder along at least one axis. By way of example, the object holder is moved along a first axis, along a second axis and/or along a third axis, where the first axis, the second axis and the third axis are aligned perpendicular to one another in each case, for example. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the object holder to be rotated about at least one axis of rotation. In particular, the aforementioned rotation includes a tilt of the object holder about an axis of rotation. In particular, provision is made for the object holder—and hence also the object arranged on the object holder—to be rotated about an axis of rotation, through 0.5° to 5°, in particular through 1° to 3° or through 1° to 2°, in a first direction and/or a second direction proceeding from an initial position. The aforementioned range boundaries of the angular ranges are included in the angular ranges. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned angular ranges. Rather, any angular range that is suitable can be used. In one embodiment, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the object holder to be rotated about a first axis of rotation and/or about a second axis of rotation. By way of example, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are aligned perpendicular to one another. 
     The method according to the system described herein also includes positioning the particle beam and/or the laser beam in relative fashion in relation to the object using the marking. Expressed differently, the particle beam and/or the laser beam are/is readjusted and positioned relative to the object following the movement of the object holder, in such a way that the particle beam is able to be guided to any desired site on the object. Relative positioning of the particle beam and/or of the laser beam in relation to the object is implemented, for example, by (a) readjusting (i.e., positioning) the particle beam (for example using deflection units of the particle beam apparatus) and/or by (b) readjusting (i.e., positioning) the laser beam (for example using guiding units for the laser beam) and/or by (c) readjusting (i.e., positioning) the object holder by moving the object holder. The method according to the system described herein then also includes processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object using the positioned particle beam and/or the positioned laser beam. 
     The method according to the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned sequence of the explained method steps. Rather, any sequence of the aforementioned method steps that is suitable can be chosen. 
     The system described herein is also advantageous in that, in particular following a movement of the object holder but also after any other relative movement of the object holder in relation to the particle beam and/or the laser beam, relative positioning of the particle beam of the particle beam apparatus and/or of the laser beam of the laser beam device is easily facilitated in relation to the object arranged on the object holder. In particular, the relative positioning of the particle beam and/or of the laser beam in relation to the object can be carried out automatically. 
     In one embodiment, the object holder is embodied as an object holder suitable for feeding an examination particle beam to the object, where the examination particle beam includes particles which transmit through the object. By way of example, the object holder is embodied as a TEM object holder which is able to be used in a TEM and/or in an SEM with a transmission detector and/or in a combination apparatus with an ion beam column, an electron beam column and a transmission detector. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the particle beam apparatus used to carry out the method according to the system described herein need not necessarily be the particle beam apparatus which provides the examination particle beam. Rather, the object holder can be unloaded from the particle beam apparatus used to carry out the method according to the system described herein and loaded into a further particle beam apparatus, in which the object is subsequently examined using the examination particle beam. By way of example, the further particle beam apparatus is a TEM. 
     In a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the object is generated by the particle beam of the particle beam apparatus and/or the laser beam of the laser beam device before the object is arranged on the object holder. By way of example, in one embodiment, the object in the form of a portion of a material piece is exposed in the material piece using the particle beam, for example an ion beam, and extracted from the material piece. By way of example, the material piece has extents in the millimeter range. By contrast, the extracted object in the form of the portion has a thickness of a few micrometers (in particular 3 μm to 6 μm), for example, and a length of a few 10 μm (in particular 30 μm to 80 μm), for example. Subsequently, the object in the form of the portion is for example fastened to a micromanipulator and lifted out of the material piece. Subsequently, the object in the form of the portion is arranged on the object holder. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the object to be arranged directly on the object holder without implementing the intermediate step, specifically arranging the object on the micromanipulator. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the object to be arranged on the object holder in such a way that a face of the object is arranged at an angle of 0° to 360° with respect to a face of the object holder that is freely accessible to the particle beam and/or the laser beam. Here, the marking is arranged on the aforementioned face of the object holder. In one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the face of the object is arranged parallel to the face of the object holder that is freely accessible to the particle beam and/or the laser beam. As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the face of the object to be arranged at an angle of 5° to 80°, for example with respect to the face of the object holder that is freely accessible to the particle beam and/or the laser beam. By way of example, provision is made for the face of the object and the face of the object holder to be arranged in different planes. As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the face of the object and the face of the object holder to be arranged in a single plane. Expressed differently, the face of the object and the face of the object holder are level. This embodiment of the method ensures particularly good relative positioning of the particle beam and/or of the laser beam in relation to the object since the marking and the object are arranged in a single plane. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the face of the object holder to be generated using the particle beam and/or the laser beam before the marking is arranged on the face of the object holder. If the object holder does not have a face that is suitable for arranging the marking or only has a face with little suitability for arranging the marking, then provision is made in this embodiment for the face of the object holder to be initially generated on the object holder, for example. Then, the face of the object holder is generated using the particle beam, for example an ion beam, and/or the laser beam on the object holder by, for example, ablating material of the object holder using the particle beam and/or the laser beam. For ablation purposes, a gas can be fed to the object holder in particular. Material ablation on the object holder is brought about as a result of an interaction of the ion beam and/or the laser beam with the gas and with the object holder. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the face of the object holder to be generated, for example, by applying material to the object holder using the particle beam and/or the laser beam while feeding a gas. By way of example, application of material to the object holder is brought about as a result of an interaction of the ion beam and/or the laser beam with the gas. 
     In one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for a reference image that includes the marking to be generated by imaging the marking using the particle beam. In this case, both above and below, a reference image that includes the marking is understood to be a reference image which has an image representation of the marking. Moreover, a further image that includes the marking is generated. In this case, both above and below, an image that includes the marking is understood to be an image which has an image representation of the marking. Expressed differently, a further image that includes the marking is generated by imaging the marking again using the particle beam. By way of example, an ion beam and/or an electron beam are/is used as a particle beam when generating a reference image that includes the marking and the further image that includes the marking. Subsequently, there is a comparison of the reference image that includes the marking with the further image that includes the marking. Subsequently, a displacement vector is determined using the comparison of the reference image that includes the marking with the further image that includes the marking. The relative positioning of the particle beam and/or the laser beam is then implemented using the determined displacement vector. By way of example, the mathematical method of cross correlation, already known from the prior art, is used when determining the displacement vector. 
     In a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the particle beam to have a specifiable beam current, where both generating the further image that includes the marking and processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object being implemented using the particle beam with a specifiable beam current. As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the particle beam to have a specifiable beam current, where (i) generating the reference image that includes the marking, (ii) generating the further image that includes the marking and (iii) processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object are implemented using the particle beam with the specifiable beam current. Therefore, in the aforementioned embodiments, provision is made for the particle beam to always be operated with the same beam current (specifically, the specifiable beam current), to be precise when generating the reference image that includes the marking, when generating the further image that includes the marking, when processing the object, when imaging the object and/or when analyzing the object. 
     In a further embodiment of the method system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the particle beam to have a specifiable first beam current or a specifiable second beam current. The first beam current differs from the second beam current. The generation of the further image that includes the marking using the particle beam is implemented with the first specifiable beam current. By contrast, processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object is/are implemented using the particle beam with the second specifiable beam current. As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the particle beam to have a specifiable first beam current or a specifiable second beam current. Here, too, the first beam current differs from the second beam current. The generation of the reference image that has the first marking and/or the generation of the further image that includes the marking is/are implemented using the particle beam with the specifiable first beam current. Moreover, processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object is/are implemented using the particle beam with the second specifiable beam current. In the aforementioned embodiments, provision is therefore made for the particle beam to be operated with different beam currents. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the processing of the object to include an ablation of material from the object. By way of example, material is ablated from the object using an ion beam and/or the laser beam. To this end, at least one gas in particular is fed to the object, where the gas interacts with the particle beam and/or the laser beam and with the object in such a way that material is ablated from the object. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the processing of the object to include an arrangement of material on the object using, for example, at least one gas being fed to the object, where the gas interacts with the particle beam and/or the laser beam in such a way that material is arranged on the object. By way of example, an ion beam is used as the particle beam. By way of example, a gaseous precursor substance—a so-called precursor—can be admitted into the sample chamber by a gas feed device. In particular, the gas feed device has an acicular device, which can be arranged very close to a position of the object at a distance of a few μm, such that the gaseous precursor substance can be guided to the position as accurately as possible and with a high concentration. As a result of the interaction of the ion beam with the gaseous precursor substance, a layer of a substance is deposited on the surface of the object. By way of example, gaseous phenanthrene is admitted as gaseous precursor substance into the sample chamber by the gas feed device. Essentially a layer of carbon or a carbon-containing layer then deposits on the surface of the object. Moreover, a gaseous precursor substance including metal can also be used to deposit a metal or a metal-containing layer on the surface of the object. However, the depositions are not limited to carbon and/or metals. Rather, arbitrary substances can be deposited on the surface of the object, for example semiconductors, non-conductors or other compounds. 
     Further additionally or in a further alternative thereto, provision is made for the analysis of the object to include at least one of the following analysis types:
         an analysis using EDX (EDX being the abbreviation for energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy),   an analysis using WDX (WDX being the abbreviation for wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy),   an analysis using EBSD (EBSD being the abbreviation for electron backscatter diffraction),   an analysis using TKD examinations (TKD being the abbreviation for transmission Kikuchi diffraction),   an analysis using an electron beam imaging, and   an analysis using a transmission detector, for example in STEM detector in an SEM or in a combination apparatus with an electron beam column and with an ion beam column.       

     In one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the charged particles to be ions. By way of example, the ions are gallium ions. However, the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned ions. Rather, any type of ion which is suitable can be used. As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the charged particles to be electrons. 
     In one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the method to have one of the following features:
         (i) The particle beam is a first particle beam. The object is imaged using a second particle beam;   (ii) The particle beam is a first particle beam, the charged particles of the first particle beam including ions. The object is imaged using a second particle beam, the second particle beam including electrons.       

     In a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for a reference image that includes the marking to be generated by imaging the marking using the second particle beam. The reference image that includes the marking is referred below as a further reference image that includes the marking. Additionally, a further image that includes the marking is generated by imaging the marking again using the second particle beam. The further image that includes the marking is referred to below as yet further image that includes the marking. 
     This is followed by a comparison of the further reference image that includes the marking with the yet further image that includes the marking, and a determination of a displacement vector using the comparison of the further reference image that includes the marking with the yet further image that includes the marking. Below, the displacement vector is referred to as a further displacement vector. The relative positioning of the particle beam and/or the laser beam is implemented using the further displacement vector. By way of example, the mathematical method of cross correlation, already known from the prior art, is used when determining the further displacement vector. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the method to have at least one of the following features:
         (i) the marking is generated as a marking with at least one edge. From the edge, a first plane extends in a first dimension and a second plane extends in a second dimension;   (ii) the marking is generated as a marking with at least one first edge and with at least one second edge. The first edge and the second edge can be aligned in different directions. Both from the first edge and from the second edge, a first plane extends in a first dimension in each case and a second plane extends in a second dimension in each case. Here, the first planes, for example, are different from one another in each case. In particular, provision is also made for the second planes to be different from one another in each case;   (iii) the marking is generated as a cross-shaped marking and/or as a polygon;   (iv) the marking is generated as a star-shaped marking;   (v) the marking is generated as an X-shaped marking;   (vi) the marking is generated as an L-shaped marking;   (vii) the marking is generated by ablating material and/or by applying material.       

     The system described herein also relates to a computer program product including program code which is loadable or loaded into a processor of a beam apparatus, in particular of a particle beam apparatus and/or a laser beam apparatus, where the program code, when executed in the processor, controls the beam apparatus in such a way that a method having at least one of the aforementioned or following features or having a combination of at least two of the aforementioned or following features is carried out. 
     The system described herein further relates to a beam apparatus for processing, imaging and/or analyzing an object. The beam apparatus according to the system described herein includes at least one beam generator for generating a particle beam that includes charged particles and/or a laser beam. The charged particles are electrons or ions, for example. Moreover, the beam apparatus includes an object holder for arranging the object. Further, the beam apparatus includes a scanning device for scanning the particle beam and/or the laser beam over the object. The beam apparatus also includes at least one detector for detecting interaction particles and/or interaction radiation which emerge/emerges from an interaction between the particle beam and/or the laser beam and the object when the particle beam and/or the laser beam is incident on the object. Furthermore, the beam apparatus according to the system described herein is provided with at least one display device for displaying the image and/or the analysis of the object. The beam apparatus according to the system described herein is also provided with at least one control unit with a processor in which a computer program product having at least one of the aforementioned or following features or having a combination of at least two of the aforementioned or following features is loaded. 
     In an embodiment of the beam apparatus according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the beam apparatus to be embodied as a particle beam apparatus. It further includes at least one objective lens for focusing the particle beam onto the object. 
     In a further embodiment of the beam apparatus according to the system described herein in the form of the particle beam apparatus, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the beam generator to be embodied as a first beam generator and for the particle beam to be embodied as a first particle beam with first charged particles. Further, the objective lens is embodied as a first objective lens for focusing the first particle beam onto the object. Moreover, the beam apparatus according to the system described herein includes at least one second beam generator for generating a second particle beam including second charged particles. Further, the beam apparatus according to the system described herein includes at least one second objective lens for focusing the second particle beam onto the object. 
     In particular, provision is made for the beam apparatus to be embodied as electron beam apparatus and/or as ion beam apparatus. 
     The system described herein also relates to an object holder for arrangement in a particle beam apparatus. By way of example, this particle beam apparatus is an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus. The object holder according to the system described herein includes at least one holding device for holding an object. Further, the object holder according to the system described herein has at least one marking for positioning a particle beam of the particle beam apparatus. By way of example, the marking is able to be generated on the object holder using a laser beam device and/or the particle beam of the particle beam apparatus. The object holder is embodied to feed charged particles which transmit through the object. By way of example, the charged particles are electrons or ions. By way of example, the object holder according to the system described herein is able to be used when carrying out the method according to the system described herein as described further above or as yet to be described further below. 
     In one embodiment of the object holder according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the object holder to have a face, which is configured in such a way that the face is freely accessible to a particle beam of a particle beam apparatus and/or to a laser beam of a laser beam apparatus. Further, the marking is arranged on the face of the object holder. Moreover, the object holder is configured in such a way that a face of the object is able to be arranged at an angle of 0° to 360° with respect to the face of the object holder. In particular, provision is made for the face of the object to be able to be arranged parallel to the face of the object holder. By way of example, provision is made for the face of the object and the face of the object holder to be able to be arranged in different planes. As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the face of the object and the face of the object holder to be able to be arranged in a single plane. Expressed differently, the face of the object and the face of the object holder are level, which may provide particularly good relative positioning of the particle beam and/or of the laser beam in relation to the object since the marking and the object are arranged in a single plane. 
     In a further embodiment of the object holder according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the marking to be arranged on the holding device. By way of example, the aforementioned holding device is a first holding device of numerous further holding devices arranged on the object holder. In particular, the further holding devices include a second holding device. In a further embodiment of the object holder according to the system described herein, the marking is arranged on the second holding device. By contrast, the first object is able to be arranged on the first holding device. The second holding device is arranged on the object holder in a manner separated from the first holding device. Consequently, the first holding device and the second holding device are not identical. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the object holder according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the object holder to have at least one of the following features:
         (i) the marking is formed as a marking with at least one edge. From the edge, a first plane extends in a first dimension and a second plane extends in a second dimension;   (ii) the marking is formed as a marking with at least one first edge and with at least one second edge. The first edge and the second edge can be aligned in different directions. From the first edge and from the second edge, a first plane extends in a first dimension and a second plane extends in a second dimension in each case. Here, the first planes, for example, are different from one another in each case. In particular, provision is also made for the second planes to be different from one another in each case;   (iii) the marking is formed as a cross-shaped marking and/or as a polygon;   (iv) the marking is formed as a star-shaped marking;   (v) the marking is formed as an X-shaped marking;   (vi) the marking is formed as an L-shaped marking;   (vii) the marking is a marking generated by ablating material and/or by applying material.       

     On account of the above-described embodiment, the aforementioned markings are particularly well-suited to an automatic identification and automatic relative positioning of the particle beam and/or laser beam in relation to the object. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Further suitable or practical embodiments and advantages of the system described herein are set forth below in association with the drawings. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic illustration of a sample stage of a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 5  shows a further schematic illustration of the sample stage according to  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of a particle beam apparatus with a laser beam device according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic illustration of a system with a particle beam apparatus and a laser beam device according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 8  shows a schematic illustration of a procedure of an embodiment of a method for operating a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 9  shows a schematic illustration of a side view of an object holder according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 10  shows a schematic illustration of a plan view of the object holder according to  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  shows a schematic illustration of a procedure of a further embodiment of a method for operating a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 12  shows a schematic illustration of a side view of a further object holder according to the system described herein; 
         FIG. 13  shows a schematic illustration of a side view of a holding device of the object holder according to  FIG. 12  after generating a face on the object holder; 
         FIG. 14  shows a further schematic illustration of a side view of a holding device of the object holder according to  FIG. 12  after generating a face on the object holder; and 
         FIG. 15  shows a schematic illustration of a plan view of a holding device of an object holder according to the system described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     The system described herein is now explained in more detail using particle beam apparatuses in the form of an SEM and in the form of a combination apparatus, which includes an electron beam column and an ion beam column. Reference is explicitly made to the fact that the system described herein may be used in any particle beam apparatus, in particular in any electron beam apparatus and/or any ion beam apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of an SEM  100 . The SEM  100  includes a first beam generator in the form of an electron source  101 , which is embodied as a cathode. Further, the SEM  100  is provided with an extraction electrode  102  and with an anode  103 , which is placed onto one end of a beam guiding tube  104  of the SEM  100 . By way of example, the electron source  101  is embodied as a thermal field emitter. However, the system described herein is not restricted to such an electron source  101 . Rather, any electron source is utilizable. 
     Electrons emerging from the electron source  101  form a primary electron beam. The electrons are accelerated to the anode potential on account of a potential difference between the electron source  101  and the anode  103 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the anode potential is 100 V to 35 kV, e.g., 5 kV to 15 kV, in particular 8 kV, relative to a ground potential of a housing of a sample chamber  120 . However, alternatively, the anode potential could also be at ground potential. 
     Two condenser lenses, specifically a first condenser lens  105  and a second condenser lens  106 , are arranged on the beam guiding tube  104 . Here, proceeding from the electron source  101  as viewed in the direction of a first objective lens  107 , the first condenser lens  105  is arranged first, followed by the second condenser lens  106 . Reference is explicitly made to the fact that further embodiments of the SEM  100  may include only a single condenser lens. A first aperture unit  108  is arranged between the anode  103  and the first condenser lens  105 . Together with the anode  103  and the beam guiding tube  104 , the first aperture unit  108  is at a high voltage potential, specifically the potential of the anode  103 , or connected to ground. The first aperture unit  108  has numerous first aperture unit openings  108 A, of which one is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . By way of example, two first aperture unit openings  108 A are present. Each one of the numerous first aperture unit openings  108 A has a different opening diameter. Using an adjustment mechanism (not illustrated), it is possible to set a desired first aperture unit opening  108 A onto an optical axis OA of the SEM  100 . Reference is explicitly made to the fact that, in further embodiments, the first aperture unit  108  may be provided with only a single aperture unit opening  108 A. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , an adjustment mechanism may be absent. The first aperture unit  108  is then designed to be stationary. A stationary second aperture unit  109  is arranged between the first condenser lens  105  and the second condenser lens  106 . As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the second aperture unit  109  to be embodied in a movable fashion. 
     The first objective lens  107  includes pole pieces  110 , in which a hole is formed. The beam guiding tube  104  is guided through this hole. A coil  111  is arranged in the pole pieces  110 . 
     An electrostatic retardation device is arranged in a lower region of the beam guiding tube  104  and includes an individual electrode  112  and a tube electrode  113 . The tube electrode  113  is arranged at one end of the beam guiding tube  104 , the end facing an object  125  that is arranged at an object holder  114  embodied in a movable fashion. 
     Together with the beam guiding tube  104 , the tube electrode  113  is at the potential of the anode  103 , while the individual electrode  112  and the object  125  are at a lower potential in relation to the potential of the anode  103 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the individual electrode  112  and the object  125  are at the ground potential of the housing of the sample chamber  120 . In this manner, the electrons of the primary electron beam may be decelerated to a desired energy which is required for examining the object  125 . 
     The SEM  100  further includes a scanning device  115  that deflects the primary electron beam and scans the primary electron beam over the object  125 . Here, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the object  125 . As a consequence of the interaction, interaction particles and/or interaction radiation arise/arises, which are/is detected. In particular, electrons are emitted from the surface of the object  125  or from regions of the object  125  close to the surface—so-called secondary electrons—or electrons of the primary electron beam are backscattered—so-called backscattered electrons—as interaction particles. 
     The object  125  and the individual electrode  112  may also be at different potentials and potentials different to ground. It is thereby possible to set the location of the retardation of the primary electron beam in relation to the object  125 . By way of example, if the retardation is carried out quite close to the object  125 , imaging aberrations become smaller. 
     A detector arrangement that includes a first detector  116  and a second detector  117  is arranged in the beam guiding tube  104  for detecting the secondary electrons and/or the backscattered electrons. Here, the first detector  116  is arranged on the source side along the optical axis OA, while the second detector  117  is arranged on the object side along the optical axis OA in the beam guiding tube  104 . The first detector  116  and the second detector  117  are arranged offset from one another in the direction of the optical axis OA of the SEM  100 . Both the first detector  116  and the second detector  117  each have a passage opening, through which the primary electron beam may pass. The first detector  116  and the second detector  117  are approximately at the potential of the anode  103  and of the beam guiding tube  104 . The optical axis OA of the SEM  100  extends through the respective passage openings. 
     The second detector  117  serves principally for detecting secondary electrons. Upon emerging from the object  125 , the secondary electrons initially have a low kinetic energy and random directions of motion. Using the strong extraction field emanating from the tube electrode  113 , the secondary electrons are accelerated in the direction of the first objective lens  107 . The secondary electrons enter the first objective lens  107  approximately parallel. The beam diameter of the beam of the secondary electrons remains small in the first objective lens  107  as well. The first objective lens  107  then has a strong effect on the secondary electrons and generates a comparatively short focus of the secondary electrons with sufficiently steep angles with respect to the optical axis OA, such that the secondary electrons diverge far apart from one another downstream of the focus and strike the second detector  117  on the active area thereof. By contrast, only a small proportion of electrons that are backscattered at the object  125 —that is to say backscattered electrons which have a relatively high kinetic energy in comparison with the secondary electrons upon emerging from the object  125 —are detected by the second detector  117 . The high kinetic energy and the angles of the backscattered electrons with respect to the optical axis OA upon emerging from the object  125  have the effect that a beam waist, that is to say a beam region having a minimum diameter, of the backscattered electrons lies in the vicinity of the second detector  117 . A large portion of the backscattered electrons passes through the passage opening of the second detector  117 . Therefore, the first detector  116  substantially serves to detect the backscattered electrons. 
     In a further embodiment of the SEM  100 , the first detector  116  may additionally be embodied with an opposing field grid  116 A. The opposing field grid  116 A is arranged at the side of the first detector  116  directed toward the object  125 . With respect to the potential of the beam guiding tube  104 , the opposing field grid  116 A has a negative potential such that only backscattered electrons with a high energy pass through the opposing field grid  116 A to the first detector  116 . In addition or as an alternative thereto, the second detector  117  includes a further opposing field grid, which has an analogous embodiment to the aforementioned opposing field grid  116 A of the first detector  116  and which has an analogous function. 
     Further, the SEM  100  includes in the sample chamber  120  a chamber detector  119 , for example an Everhart-Thornley detector or an ion detector, which has a detection surface that is coated with metal and blocks light. 
     The detection signals generated by the first detector  116 , the second detector  117  and the chamber detector  119  are used to generate an image or images of the surface of the object  125 . 
     Reference is explicitly made to the fact that the aperture unit openings of the first aperture unit  108  and of the second aperture unit  109 , as well as the passage openings of the first detector  116  and of the second detector  117 , are illustrated in exaggerated fashion. The passage openings of the first detector  116  and of the second detector  117  have an extent perpendicular to the optical axis OA in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. By way of example, the passage openings are of circular design and have a diameter in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm perpendicular to the optical axis OA. 
     The second aperture unit  109  is configured as a pinhole aperture unit in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and is provided with a second aperture unit opening  118  for the passage of the primary electron beam, which has an extent in the range from 5 μm to 500 μm, e.g., 35 μm. As an alternative thereto, provision is made in a further embodiment for the second aperture unit  109  to be provided with a plurality of aperture unit openings, which can be displaced mechanically with respect to the primary electron beam or which can be reached by the primary electron beam by the use of electrical and/or magnetic deflection elements. The second aperture unit  109  is embodied as a pressure stage aperture unit, which separates a first region, in which the electron source  101  is arranged and in which there is an ultra-high vacuum (10 −7  hPa to 10 −12  hPa), from a second region, which has a high vacuum (10 −3  hPa to 10 −7  hPa). The second region is the intermediate pressure region of the beam guiding tube  104 , which leads to the sample chamber  120 . 
     The sample chamber  120  is under vacuum. For the purposes of producing the vacuum, a pump (not illustrated) is arranged at the sample chamber  120 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the sample chamber  120  is operated in a first pressure range or in a second pressure range. The first pressure range includes only pressures of less than or equal to 10 −3  hPa, and the second pressure range includes only pressures of greater than 10 −3  hPa. To maintain appropriate pressure ranges, the sample chamber  120  is vacuum sealed. 
     The object holder  114  is arranged at a sample stage  122 . The sample stage  122  has movement units such that the object holder  114  is embodied to be movable in three directions arranged perpendicular to one another, specifically in an x-direction (first stage axis), in a y-direction (second stage axis) and in a z-direction (third stage axis). Moreover, the sample stage  122  has movement units such that the object holder  114  can be rotated about two axes of rotation (stage axes of rotation) arranged perpendicular to one another. The invention is not restricted to the sample stage  122  described above. Rather, the sample stage  122  can have further translation axes and axes of rotation along which or about which the object holder  114  can move. 
     The SEM  100  further includes a third detector  121 , which is arranged in the sample chamber  120 . More precisely, the third detector  121  is arranged downstream of the sample stage  122 , viewed from the electron source  101  along the optical axis OA. The sample stage  122 , and hence the object holder  114 , can be rotated in such a way that the primary electron beam can radiate through the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114 . When the primary electron beam passes through the object  125  to be examined, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the material of the object  125  to be examined. The electrons passing through the object  125  to be examined are detected by the third detector  121 . 
     Arranged at the sample chamber  120  is a radiation detector  500 , which is used to detect interaction radiation, for example x-ray radiation and/or cathodoluminescence. The radiation detector  500 , the first detector  116 , the second detector  117 , and the chamber detector  119  are connected to a control unit  123 , which includes a monitor  124 . The third detector  121  is also connected to the control unit  123 , which is not illustrated in  FIG. 1  for reasons of clarity. The control unit  123  processes detection signals that are generated by the first detector  116 , the second detector  117 , the chamber detector  119 , the third detector  121  and/or the radiation detector  500  and displays the detection signals in the form of images or spectra on the monitor  124 . 
     The control unit  123  furthermore has a database  126 , in which data is stored and from which data is read out. Moreover, the control unit  123  includes a processor  127 , loaded onto which there is a computer program product with program code which, upon execution, controls the SEM  100  in such a way that the method according to the system described herein is carried out. This is discussed in more detail further below. 
     The SEM  100  includes a gas feed device  1000 , which serves to feed a gaseous precursor to a specific position on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 . The gas feed device  1000  has a gas reservoir in the form of a precursor reservoir  1001 . By way of example, the precursor is received as a solid, gaseous or liquid substance in the precursor reservoir  1001 . By heating and/or cooling the precursor, the equilibrium between the solid phase, the liquid phase and the gaseous phase is adjusted in such a way that the required vapor pressure is available. By way of example, phenanthrene is used as precursor. Essentially a layer of carbon or a carbon-containing layer then deposits on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 . As an alternative thereto, by way of example, a precursor including metal can be used to deposit a metal or a metal-containing layer on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 . However, the depositions are not limited to carbon and/or metals. Rather, any desired substance can be deposited on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 , for example semiconductors, non-conductors or other compounds. Further, provision is also made for the precursor to be used for ablating material from the object  125  and/or the object holder  114  upon interaction with the particle beam. 
     The gas feed device  1000  is provided with a feed line  1002 . The feed line  1002  has, in the direction of the object  125 , an acicular hollow tube  1003 , which is able to be brought into the vicinity of the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 , for example at a distance of 10 μm to 1 mm from the surface of the object  125  and/or the object holder  114 . The hollow tube  1003  has a feed opening, the diameter of which is for example in the range of 10 μm to 1000 μm, in particular in the range of 100 μm to 600 μm. The feed line  1002  has a valve  1004  in order to regulate the flow rate of gaseous precursor into the feed line  1002 . Expressed differently, when the valve  1004  is opened, gaseous precursor from the precursor reservoir  1001  is introduced into the feed line  1002  and guided via the hollow tube  1003  to the surface of the object  125  and/or the object holder  114 . When the valve  1004  is closed, the flow of the gaseous precursor onto the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114  is stopped. 
     The gas feed device  1000  is furthermore provided with an adjusting unit  1005 , which enables an adjustment of the position of the hollow tube  1003  in all 3 spatial directions—namely an x-direction, a y-direction and a z-direction—and an adjustment of the orientation of the hollow tube  1003  using a rotation and/or a tilting. The gas feed device  1000  and thus also the adjusting unit  1005  are connected to the control unit  123  of the SEM  100 . 
     In further embodiments, the precursor reservoir  1001  is not arranged directly at the gas feed device  1000 . Rather, in further embodiments, provision is made for the precursor reservoir  1001  to be arranged for example at a wall of a space in which the SEM  100  is situated. 
     The gas feed device  1000  includes a temperature measuring unit  1006 . By way of example, an infrared measuring apparatus or a semiconductor temperature sensor is used as temperature measuring unit  1006 . However, the invention is not restricted to the use of such temperature measuring units. Rather, any suitable temperature measuring unit which is suitable can be used as temperature measuring unit. In particular, provision can be made for the temperature measuring unit  1006  not to be arranged at the gas feed device  1000  itself, but rather to be arranged for example at a distance from the gas feed device  1000 . 
     The gas feed device  1000  further includes a temperature setting unit  1007 . By way of example, the temperature setting unit  1007  is a heating device, in particular a conventional infrared heating device. As an alternative thereto, the temperature setting unit  1007  is embodied as a heating and/or cooling device, which includes a heating wire and/or a Peltier element, for example. However, the invention is not restricted to the use of such a temperature setting unit  1007 . Rather, any suitable temperature setting unit can be used. 
       FIG. 2  shows a particle beam apparatus in the form of a combination apparatus  200 . The combination apparatus  200  includes two particle beam columns. Firstly, the combination apparatus  200  is provided with the SEM  100 , as already illustrated in  FIG. 1 , but without the sample chamber  120 . Rather, the SEM  100  is arranged at a sample chamber  201 . The sample chamber  201  is under vacuum. For the purposes of producing the vacuum, a pump (not illustrated) is arranged at the sample chamber  201 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sample chamber  201  is operated in a first pressure range or in a second pressure range. The first pressure range includes only pressures of less than or equal to 10 −3  hPa, and the second pressure range includes only pressures of greater than 10 −3  hPa. To maintain appropriate pressure ranges, the sample chamber  201  is vacuum-sealed. 
     Arranged in the sample chamber  201  is the chamber detector  119  which is embodied, for example, in the form of an Everhart-Thornley detector or an ion detector and which has a detection surface coated with metal that blocks light. Further, the third detector  121  is arranged in the sample chamber  201 . 
     The SEM  100  serves to generate a first particle beam, specifically the primary electron beam described above, and has the optical axis, described above, which is provided with the reference sign  709  in  FIG. 2  and which is also referred to as first beam axis below. Secondly, the combination apparatus  200  is provided with an ion beam apparatus  300 , which is likewise arranged at the sample chamber  201 . The ion beam apparatus  300  likewise has an optical axis, which is provided with the reference sign  710  in  FIG. 2  and which is also referred to as a second beam axis below. 
     The SEM  100  is arranged vertically in relation to the sample chamber  201 . By contrast, the ion beam apparatus  300  is arranged in a manner inclined by an angle of approximately 0° to 90° in relation to the SEM  100 . An arrangement of approximately 50° is illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 2 . The ion beam apparatus  300  includes a second beam generator in the form of an ion beam generator  301 . Ions, which form a second particle beam in the form of an ion beam, are generated by the ion beam generator  301 . The ions are accelerated using an extraction electrode  302 , which is at a predeterminable potential. The second particle beam then passes through an ion optical unit of the ion beam apparatus  300 , where the ion optical unit includes a condenser lens  303  and a second objective lens  304 . The second objective lens  304  ultimately generates an ion probe, which is focused onto the object  125  arranged at an object holder  114 . The object holder  114  is arranged at a sample stage  122 . 
     An adjustable or selectable aperture unit  306 , a first electrode arrangement  307  and a second electrode arrangement  308  are arranged above the second objective lens  304  (i.e., in the direction of the ion beam generator  301 ), where the first electrode arrangement  307  and the second electrode arrangement  308  are embodied as scanning electrodes. The second particle beam is scanned over the surface of the object  125  using the first electrode arrangement  307  and the second electrode arrangement  308 , with the first electrode arrangement  307  acting in a first direction and the second electrode arrangement  308  acting in a second direction, which is counter to the first direction. Thus, scanning is carried out in an x-direction, for example. The scanning in a y-direction perpendicular thereto is brought about by further electrodes (not illustrated), which are rotated by 90°, at the first electrode arrangement  307  and at the second electrode arrangement  308 . 
     As explained above, the object holder  114  is arranged at the sample stage  122 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , too, the sample stage  122  has movement units such that the object holder  114  is embodied to be movable in three directions arranged perpendicular to one another, specifically in an x-direction (first stage axis), in a y-direction (second stage axis) and in a z-direction (third stage axis). Moreover, the sample stage  122  has movement units such that the object holder  114  can be rotated about two axes of rotation (stage axes of rotation) arranged perpendicular to one another. 
     The distances illustrated in  FIG. 2  between the individual units of the combination apparatus  200  are illustrated in exaggerated fashion in order to better illustrate the individual units of the combination apparatus  200 . 
     Arranged at the sample chamber  201  is a radiation detector  500 , which is used to detect interaction radiation, for example x-ray radiation and/or cathodoluminescence. The radiation detector  500  is connected to a control unit  123 , which includes a monitor  124 . 
     The control unit  123  processes detection signals that are generated by the first detector  116 , the second detector  117  (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), the chamber detector  119 , the third detector  121  and/or the radiation detector  500  and displays the detection signals in the form of images or spectra on the monitor  124 . 
     The control unit  123  furthermore has a database  126 , in which data is stored and from which data is read out. Moreover, the control unit  123  includes a processor  127 , loaded onto which there is a computer program product with program code which, upon execution, controls the combination apparatus  200  in such a way that the method according to the system described herein is carried out. This is discussed in more detail further below. 
     The combination apparatus  200  includes a gas feed device  1000 , which serves to feed a gaseous precursor to a specific position on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 . The gas feed device  1000  includes a gas reservoir in the form of a precursor reservoir  1001 . By way of example, the precursor is received as a solid, gaseous or liquid substance in the precursor reservoir  1001 . By heating and/or cooling the precursor, the equilibrium between the solid phase, the liquid phase and the gaseous phase is adjusted in such a way that the required vapor pressure is available. 
     By way of example, phenanthrene is used as precursor. Essentially a layer of carbon or a carbon-containing layer then deposits on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 . As an alternative thereto, by way of example, a precursor including metal can be used to deposit a metal or a metal-containing layer on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 . However, the depositions are not limited to carbon and/or metals. Rather, any desired substance can be deposited on the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 , for example semiconductors, non-conductors or other compounds. Further, provision is also made for the precursor to be used for ablating material from the object  125  and/or the object holder  114  upon interaction with one of the two particle beams. 
     The gas feed device  1000  is provided with a feed line  1002 . The feed line  1002  has, in the direction of the object  125  and/or the object holder  114 , an acicular hollow tube  1003 , which is able to be brought into the vicinity of the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114 , for example at a distance of 10 μm to 1 mm from the surface of the object  125  and/or the object holder  114 . The hollow tube  1003  has a feed opening, the diameter of which is for example in the range of 10 μm to 1000 μm, in particular in the range of 100 μm to 600 μm. The feed line  1002  has a valve  1004  in order to regulate the flow rate of gaseous precursor into the feed line  1002 . Expressed differently, when the valve  1004  is opened, gaseous precursor from the precursor reservoir  1001  is introduced into the feed line  1002  and guided via the hollow tube  1003  to the surface of the object  125  and/or the object holder  114 . When the valve  1004  is closed, the flow of the gaseous precursor onto the surface of the object  125  and/or of the object holder  114  is stopped. 
     The gas feed device  1000  is furthermore provided with an adjusting unit  1005 , which enables an adjustment of the position of the hollow tube  1003  in all 3 spatial directions—namely an x-direction, a y-direction and a z-direction—and an adjustment of the orientation of the hollow tube  1003  using a rotation and/or a tilting. The gas feed device  1000  and thus also the adjusting unit  1005  are connected to the control unit  123  of the combination apparatus  200 . 
     In further embodiments, the precursor reservoir  1001  is not arranged directly at the gas feed device  1000 . Rather, in further embodiments, provision is made for the precursor reservoir  1001  to be arranged for example at a wall of a space in which the combination apparatus  200  is situated. 
     The gas feed device  1000  includes a temperature measuring unit  1006 . By way of example, an infrared measuring apparatus or a semiconductor temperature sensor is used as temperature measuring unit  1006 . However, the invention is not restricted to the use of such temperature measuring units. Rather, any suitable temperature measuring unit which is suitable can be used as temperature measuring unit. In particular, provision can be made for the temperature measuring unit  1006  not to be arranged at the gas feed device  1000  itself, but rather to be arranged for example at a distance from the gas feed device  1000 . 
     The gas feed device  1000  further includes a temperature setting unit  1007 . By way of example, the temperature setting unit  1007  is a heating device, in particular a conventional infrared heating device. As an alternative thereto, the temperature setting unit  1007  is embodied as a heating and/or cooling device, which includes a heating wire and/or a Peltier element, for example. However, the invention is not restricted to the use of such a temperature setting unit  1007 . Rather, any suitable temperature setting unit can be used. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of a particle beam apparatus according to the system described herein. This embodiment of the particle beam apparatus is provided with the reference sign  400  and includes a mirror corrector for correcting, e.g., chromatic and/or spherical aberrations. The particle beam apparatus  400  includes a particle beam column  401 , which is embodied as an electron beam column and which substantially corresponds to an electron beam column of a corrected SEM. However, the particle beam apparatus  400  is not restricted to an SEM with a mirror corrector. Rather, the particle beam apparatus  400  may include any type of corrector units. 
     The particle beam column  401  includes a particle beam generator in the form of an electron source  402  (cathode), an extraction electrode  403 , and an anode  404 . By way of example, the electron source  402  is embodied as a thermal field emitter. Electrons emerging from the electron source  402  are accelerated to the anode  404  on account of a potential difference between the electron source  402  and the anode  404 . Accordingly, a particle beam in the form of an electron beam is formed along a first optical axis OA 1 . 
     The particle beam is guided along a beam path, which corresponds to the first optical axis OA 1 , after the particle beam has emerged from the electron source  402 . A first electrostatic lens  405 , a second electrostatic lens  406 , and a third electrostatic lens  407  are used to guide the particle beam. 
     Furthermore, the particle beam is set along the beam path using a beam guiding device. The beam guiding device of this embodiment includes a source setting unit with two magnetic deflection units  408  arranged along the first optical axis OA 1 . Moreover, the particle beam apparatus  400  includes electrostatic beam deflection units. A first electrostatic beam deflection unit  409 , which is also embodied as a quadrupole in a further embodiment, is arranged between the second electrostatic lens  406  and the third electrostatic lens  407 . The first electrostatic beam deflection unit  409  is likewise arranged downstream of the magnetic deflection units  408 . A first multi-pole unit  409 A in the form of a first magnetic deflection unit is arranged at one side of the first electrostatic beam deflection unit  409 . Moreover, a second multi-pole unit  409 B in the form of a second magnetic deflection unit is arranged at the other side of the first electrostatic beam deflection unit  409 . The first electrostatic beam deflection unit  409 , the first multi-pole unit  409 A, and the second multi-pole unit  409 B are set for the purposes of setting the particle beam with respect to the axis of the third electrostatic lens  407  and the entrance window of a beam deflection device  410 . The first electrostatic beam deflection unit  409 , the first multi-pole unit  409 A and the second multi-pole unit  409 B may interact like a Wien filter. A further magnetic deflection element  432  is arranged at the entrance to the beam deflection device  410 . 
     The beam deflection device  410  is used as a particle beam deflector, which deflects the particle beam in a specific manner. The beam deflection device  410  includes a plurality of magnetic sectors, specifically a first magnetic sector  411 A, a second magnetic sector  411 B, a third magnetic sector  411 C, a fourth magnetic sector  411 D, a fifth magnetic sector  411 E, a sixth magnetic sector  411 F, and a seventh magnetic sector  411 G. The particle beam enters the beam deflection device  410  along the first optical axis OA 1  and the particle beam is deflected by the beam deflection device  410  in the direction of a second optical axis OA 2 . The beam deflection is performed using the first magnetic sector  411 A, the second magnetic sector  411 B and the third magnetic sector  411 C through an angle of 30° to 120°. The second optical axis OA 2  is oriented at the same angle with respect to the first optical axis OA 1 . The beam deflection device  410  also deflects the particle beam which is guided along the second optical axis OA 2 , to be precise in the direction of a third optical axis OA 3 . The beam deflection is provided by the third magnetic sector  411 C, the fourth magnetic sector  411 D, and the fifth magnetic sector  411 E. In the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , the deflection with respect to the second optical axis OA 2  and with respect to the third optical axis OA 3  is provided by deflection of the particle beam at an angle of 90°. Hence, the third optical axis OA 3  extends coaxially with respect to the first optical axis OA 1 . However, reference is made to the fact that the particle beam apparatus  400  according to the invention described here is not restricted to deflection angles of 90°. Rather, any suitable deflection angle may be selected by the beam deflection device  410 , for example 70° or 110°, such that the first optical axis OA 1  does not extend coaxially with respect to the third optical axis OA 3 . In respect of further details of the beam deflection device  410 , reference is made to WO 02/067286 A2. 
     After the particle beam has been deflected by the first magnetic sector  411 A, the second magnetic sector  411 B, and the third magnetic sector  411 C, the particle beam is guided along the second optical axis OA 2 . The particle beam is guided to an electrostatic mirror  414  and travels on its path to the electrostatic mirror  414  along a fourth electrostatic lens  415 , a third multi-pole unit  416 A in the form of a magnetic deflection unit, a second electrostatic beam deflection unit  416 , a third electrostatic beam deflection unit  417 , and a fourth multi-pole unit  416 B in the form of a magnetic deflection unit. The electrostatic mirror  414  includes a first mirror electrode  413 A, a second mirror electrode  413 B, and a third mirror electrode  413 C. Electrons of the particle beam which are reflected back at the electrostatic mirror  414  once again travel along the second optical axis OA 2  and re-enter the beam deflection device  410 . Then, the electrons are deflected to the third optical axis OA 3  by the third magnetic sector  411 C, the fourth magnetic sector  411 D, and the fifth magnetic sector  411 E. 
     The electrons of the particle beam emerge from the beam deflection device  410  and the electrons are guided along the third optical axis OA 3  to an object  425  that is intended to be examined and is arranged in an object holder  114 . On the path to the object  425 , the particle beam is guided to a fifth electrostatic lens  418 , a beam guiding tube  420 , a fifth multi-pole unit  418 A, a sixth multi-pole unit  418 B, and an objective lens  421 . The fifth electrostatic lens  418  is an electrostatic immersion lens. By way of the fifth electrostatic lens  418 , the particle beam is decelerated or accelerated to an electric potential of the beam guiding tube  420 . 
     Using the objective lens  421 , the particle beam is focused into a focal plane in which the object  425  is arranged. The object holder  114  is arranged at a movable sample stage  424 . The movable sample stage  424  is arranged in a sample chamber  426  of the particle beam apparatus  400 . The sample stage  424  has movement units such that the object holder  114  is embodied to be movable in three directions arranged perpendicular to one another, specifically in an x-direction (first stage axis), in a y-direction (second stage axis) and in a z-direction (third stage axis). Moreover, the sample stage  424  has movement units such that the object holder  114  can be rotated about two axes of rotation (stage axes of rotation) arranged perpendicular to one another. 
     The sample chamber  426  is under vacuum. For the purposes of producing the vacuum, a pump (not illustrated) is arranged at the sample chamber  426 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the sample chamber  426  is operated in a first pressure range or in a second pressure range. The first pressure range includes only pressures of less than or equal to 10 −3  hPa, and the second pressure range includes only pressures of greater than 10 −3  hPa. To maintain appropriate pressure ranges, the sample chamber  426  is vacuum sealed. 
     The objective lens  421  may be embodied as a combination of a magnetic lens  422  and a sixth electrostatic lens  423 . The end of the beam guiding tube  420  further may be an electrode of an electrostatic lens. After emerging from the beam guiding tube  420 , particles of the particle beam apparatus are decelerated to a potential of the object  425 . The objective lens  421  is not restricted to a combination of the magnetic lens  422  and the sixth electrostatic lens  423 . Rather, the objective lens  421  may assume any suitable embodiment. By way of example, the objective lens  421  also may be embodied as a purely magnetic lens or as a purely electrostatic lens. 
     The particle beam which is focused onto the object  425  interacts with the object  425 . Interaction particles are generated. In particular, secondary electrons are emitted from the object  425  or backscattered electrons are backscattered at the object  425 . The secondary electrons or the backscattered electrons are accelerated again and guided into the beam guiding tube  420  along the third optical axis OA 3 . In particular, the trajectories of the secondary electrons and the backscattered electrons extend on the route of the beam path of the particle beam in the opposite direction to the particle beam. 
     The particle beam apparatus  400  includes a first analysis detector  419 , which is arranged between the beam deflection device  410  and the objective lens  421  along the beam path. Secondary electrons travelling in directions oriented at a large angle with respect to the third optical axis OA 3  are detected by the first analysis detector  419 . Backscattered electrons and secondary electrons which have a small axial distance with respect to the third optical axis OA 3  at the location of the first analysis detector  419 —i.e., backscattered electrons and secondary electrons which have a small distance from the third optical axis OA 3  at the location of the first analysis detector  419 —enter the beam deflection device  410  and are deflected to a second analysis detector  428  by the fifth magnetic sector  411 E, the sixth magnetic sector  411 F and the seventh magnetic sector  411 G along a detection beam path  427 . By way of example, the deflection angle is 90° or 110°. 
     The first analysis detector  419  generates detection signals which are largely generated by emitted secondary electrons. The detection signals which are generated by the first analysis detector  419  are guided to a control unit  123  and are used to obtain information about the properties of the interaction region of the focused particle beam with the object  425 . In particular, the focused particle beam is scanned over the object  425  using a scanning device  429 . Using the detection signals generated by the first analysis detector  419 , an image of the scanned region of the object  425  can then be generated and displayed on a display unit. The display unit is, for example, a monitor  124  that is arranged at the control unit  123 . 
     The second analysis detector  428  is also connected to the control unit  123 . Detection signals of the second analysis detector  428  are passed to the control unit  123  and used to generate an image of the scanned region of the object  425  and to display the image on a display unit. The display unit is for example the monitor  124  that is arranged at the control unit  123 . 
     Arranged at the sample chamber  426  is a radiation detector  500 , which is used to detect interaction radiation, for example x-ray radiation and/or cathodoluminescence. The radiation detector  500  is connected to the control unit  123 , which includes the monitor  124 . The control unit  123  processes detection signals of the radiation detector  500  and displays the detection signals in the form of images and/or spectra on the monitor  124 . 
     The control unit  123  furthermore has a database  126 , in which data is stored and from which data is read out. Moreover, the control unit  123  includes a processor  127 , loaded onto which there is a computer program product with program code which, upon execution, controls the particle beam apparatus  400  in such a way that the method according to the system described herein is carried out. This is discussed in more detail further below. 
     The particle beam apparatus  400  includes a gas feed device  1000 , which serves to feed a gaseous precursor to a specific position on the surface of the object  425  and/or of the object holder  114 . The gas feed device  1000  includes a gas reservoir in the form of a precursor reservoir  1001 . By way of example, the precursor is received as a solid, gaseous or liquid substance in the precursor reservoir  1001 . By heating and/or cooling the precursor, the equilibrium between the solid phase, the liquid phase and the gaseous phase is adjusted in such a way that the required vapor pressure is available. 
     By way of example, phenanthrene is used as precursor. Essentially a layer of carbon or a carbon-containing layer then deposits on the surface of the object  425  and/or of the object holder  114 . As an alternative thereto, by way of example, a precursor including metal can be used to deposit a metal or a metal-containing layer on the surface of the object  425  and/or of the object holder  114 . However, the depositions are not limited to carbon and/or metals. Rather, any desired substance can be deposited on the surface of the object  425  and/or of the object holder  114 , for example semiconductors, non-conductors or other compounds. Further, provision is also made for the precursor to be used for ablating material from the object  425  and/or the object holder  114  upon interaction with a particle beam. 
     The gas feed device  1000  is provided with a feed line  1002 . The feed line  1002  has, in the direction of the object  425  and/or the object holder  114 , an acicular hollow tube  1003 , which is able to be brought into the vicinity of the surface of the object  425  and/or of the object holder  114 , for example at a distance of 10 μm to 1 mm from the surface of the object  425  and/or the object holder  114 . The hollow tube  1003  has a feed opening, the diameter of which is for example in the range of 10 μm to 1000 μm, in particular in the range of 100 μm to 600 μm. The feed line  1002  has a valve  1004  in order to regulate the flow rate of gaseous precursor into the feed line  1002 . Expressed differently, when the valve  1004  is opened, gaseous precursor from the precursor reservoir  1001  is introduced into the feed line  1002  and guided via the hollow tube  1003  to the surface of the object  425  and/or the object holder  114 . When the valve  1004  is closed, the flow of the gaseous precursor onto the surface of the object  425  and/or of the object holder  114  is stopped. 
     The gas feed device  1000  is furthermore provided with an adjusting unit  1005 , which enables an adjustment of the position of the hollow tube  1003  in all 3 spatial directions—namely an x-direction, a y-direction and a z-direction—and an adjustment of the orientation of the hollow tube  1003  using a rotation and/or a tilting. The gas feed device  1000  and thus also the adjusting unit  1005  are connected to the control unit  123  of the particle beam apparatus  400 . 
     In further embodiments, the precursor reservoir  1001  is not arranged directly at the gas feed device  1000 . Rather, in further embodiments, provision is made for the precursor reservoir  1001  to be arranged for example at a wall of a space in which the particle beam apparatus  400  is situated. 
     The gas feed device  1000  includes a temperature measuring unit  1006 . By way of example, an infrared measuring apparatus or a semiconductor temperature sensor is used as temperature measuring unit  1006 . However, the invention is not restricted to the use of such temperature measuring units. Rather, any suitable temperature measuring unit can be used as temperature measuring unit. In particular, provision can be made for the temperature measuring unit  1006  not to be arranged at the gas feed device  1000  itself, but rather to be arranged for example at a distance from the gas feed device  1000 . 
     The gas feed device  1000  further includes a temperature setting unit  1007 . By way of example, the temperature setting unit  1007  is a heating device, in particular a conventional infrared heating device. As an alternative thereto, the temperature setting unit  1007  is embodied as a heating and/or cooling device, which includes a heating wire and/or a Peltier element, for example. However, the invention is not restricted to the use of such a temperature setting unit  1007 . Rather, any suitable temperature setting unit can be used. 
     Now, the sample stage  122  of the SEM  100 , the sample stage  122  of the combination apparatus  200  and the sample stage  424  of the particle beam apparatus  400  are discussed below. The sample stage  122 ,  424  is embodied as a sample stage with movement units, which is illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the sample stage  122 ,  424  described here. Rather, the invention can use any movable sample stage that is suitable. 
     Arranged on the sample stage  122 ,  424  is the object holder  114  with the object  125 ,  425 . The sample stage  122 ,  424  has movement units that ensure a movement of the object holder  114  in such a way that a region of interest on the object  125 ,  425  can be examined by a particle beam. The movement units are illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and are explained below. 
     The sample stage  122 ,  424  has a first movement unit  600  on a housing  601  of the sample chamber  120 ,  201 ,  426 , in which the sample stage  122 ,  424  is arranged. The first movement unit  600  enables a movement of the object holder  114  along the z-axis (third stage axis). Further, provision is made for a second movement unit  602 . The second movement unit  602  enables a rotation of the object holder  114  about a first stage axis of rotation  603 , which is also referred to as a tilt axis. This second movement unit  602  serves to tilt the object  125 ,  425  about the first stage axis of rotation  603 . 
     Arranged on the second movement unit  602 , in turn, is a third movement unit  604  that is embodied as a guide for a slide and that ensures that the object holder  114  is movable in the x-direction (first stage axis). The aforementioned slide is a further movement unit in turn, specifically a fourth movement unit  605 . The fourth movement unit  605  is embodied in such a way that the object holder  114  is movable in the y-direction (second stage axis). To this end, the fourth movement unit  605  has a guide in which a further slide is guided, a holder  609  with the object holder  114  and the object  125 ,  425  in turn being arranged on the further slide. 
     The holder  609  is embodied, in turn, with a fifth movement unit  606  that facilitates a rotation of the holder  609  about a second stage axis of rotation  607 . The second stage axis of rotation  607  is oriented perpendicular to the first stage axis of rotation  603 . 
     On account of the above-described arrangement, the sample stage  122 ,  424  of the embodiment discussed in connection with  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  has the following kinematic chain: first movement unit  600  (movement along the z-axis)—second movement unit  602  (rotation about the first stage axis of rotation  603 )—third movement unit  604  (movement along the x-axis)—fourth movement unit  605  (movement along the y-axis)—fifth movement unit  606  (rotation about the second stage axis of rotation  607 ). 
     In a further embodiment (not illustrated), provision is made for further movement units to be arranged at the sample stage  122 ,  424  such that movements along further translational axes and/or about further axes of rotation are made possible. 
     It is clear from  FIG. 5  that each of the aforementioned movement units is connected to a stepper motor. Thus, the first movement unit  600  is connected to a first stepper motor M 1  and driven on account of a driving force that is provided by the first stepper motor M 1 . The second movement unit  602  is connected to a second stepper motor M 2 , which drives the second movement unit  602 . The third movement unit  604  is connected, in turn, to a third stepper motor M 3 . The third stepper motor M 3  provides a driving force for driving the third movement unit  604 . The fourth movement unit  605  is connected to a fourth stepper motor M 4 , where the fourth stepper motor M 4  drives the fourth movement unit  605 . Further, the fifth movement unit  606  is connected to a fifth stepper motor M 5 . The fifth stepper motor M 5  provides a driving force that drives the fifth movement unit  606 . The aforementioned stepper motors M 1  to M 5  are controlled by a control unit  608  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the SEM  100 , the combination apparatus  200  and the particle beam apparatus  400  with the sample stage  122 ,  424 . The embodiment of  FIG. 6  includes a laser beam device  700 , which is arranged in and/or on the SEM  100 , the combination apparatus  200  and the particle beam apparatus  400 .  FIG. 7  shows a schematic illustration of yet a further embodiment of the SEM  100 , the combination apparatus  200  and the particle beam apparatus  400  with the sample stage  122 ,  424 . In this embodiment, the laser beam device  700  is not arranged in or on the SEM  100 , the combination apparatus  200  and the particle beam apparatus  400 . Rather, the laser beam device  700  is a separate device from the SEM  100 , the combination apparatus  200  and the particle beam apparatus  400 . 
     Embodiments of the method according to the system described herein are explained in more detail below in relation to the combination apparatus  200 . The method according to the system described herein is carried out in analogous fashion in relation to the SEM  100  and/or the particle beam apparatus  400 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a schematic illustration of a procedure of one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein. The object  125  intended for subsequent processing, imaging and/or analysis is initially generated in a method step S 1 . By way of example, in this embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the object  125  in the form of a portion of a material piece is exposed in the material piece using the ion beam of the combination apparatus  200 , and extracted from the material piece. By way of example, the exposure is implemented by ablating material from the material piece using the ion beam. To this end, for example, a gas can be fed to the material piece via the feed line  1002  of the gas feed device  1000 , which interacts with the ion beam and the material of the material piece in such a way that material is ablated from the material piece. By way of example, the material piece has extents in the millimeter range. By contrast, the extracted object  125  in the form of the portion has a thickness of a few micrometers (in particular 3 μm to 6 μm), for example, and a length of a few 10 μm (in particular 30 μm to 80 μm), for example. 
     In a further method step S 2 , the extracted object  125  is arranged on the object holder  114 . To this end, for example, the extracted object  125  is fastened to a micromanipulator (not illustrated) and lifted out of the material piece. By way of example, fastening is implemented by feeding a gas of the gas feed device  1000  to a connecting site of the object  125  with the micromanipulator. On account of an interaction of the ion beam with the gas, material is applied to the connecting site in such a way that the extracted object  125  is fastened to the micromanipulator. Thereupon, the object  125  is arranged on the object holder  114 . To this end, the object  125  is fastened to the object holder  114  and detached from the micromanipulator again. By way of example, fastening to the object holder  114  is implemented in turn by feeding a gas of the gas feed device  1000  to a connecting site of the object  125  with the object holder  114 . On account of an interaction of the ion beam with the gas, material is applied to the connecting site in such a way that the object  125  is fastened to the object holder  114 . By way of example, the object  125  is detached again by feeding a gas of the gas feed device  1000  to the connecting site of the object  125  with the micromanipulator. On account of an interaction of the ion beam with the gas, material is ablated from the connecting site in such a way that the object  125  is detached from the micromanipulator. As an alternative thereto, to detach the object  125  from the micromanipulator, use is only made of the ion beam with which material is ablated from the connecting site of the object  125  with the micromanipulator. In a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is additionally or alternatively made for the object  125  to be arranged directly on the object holder  114  without implementing the intermediate step, specifically arranging the object  125  on the micromanipulator. 
       FIG. 9  shows a schematic illustration of a side view of the object holder  114 . The object holder  114  includes a first holding device  701 , a second holding device  702 , a third holding device  703  and a fourth holding device  704 . The aforementioned holding devices  701 - 704  are arranged at a distance from one another and serve to arrange the object  125 . In the embodiment of the object holder  114  illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the object  125  is arranged on the first holding device  701 . By way of example, the object  125  is arranged on the first holding device  701  according to the method steps explained above. By way of example, provision is made for the object holder  114  to be embodied to feed charged particles to the object  125 , the charged particles transmitting through the object  125 . In particular, the charged particles are electrons or ions. Further, by way of example, provision is made for the object holder  114  to be embodied as a TEM object holder which can be used for further imaging and analysis of the object  125  in a TEM (not illustrated). In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the object holder  114  to remain inserted in the combination apparatus  200  and for an analysis of the object  125  to be implemented using the third detector  121 . Explicit reference is made to the fact that the method according to the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned embodiment of the object holder  114 . Rather, use can be made of any object holder that is suitable for carrying out the method described herein. 
     At least one marking is arranged on the object holder  114  in a method step S 3 . Expressed differently, at least one marking is generated on the object holder  114 . The method step S 3  can also be implemented before or during the method step S 2 . By way of example, the marking is generated using the laser beam of the laser beam device  700 , which may be implemented in the combination apparatus  200  (cf.  FIG. 6 ). As an alternative thereto, the object holder  114  can be unloaded from the combination apparatus  200 , for example. Subsequently, the marking on the object holder  114  is generated using the laser beam device  700  (cf.  FIG. 7 ). Material is ablated from the object holder  114  in such a way using the laser beam device  700  that the marking is generated. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for material to be ablated from the object holder  114  and/or for material to be applied to the object holder  114  in such a way using the ion beam, for example, that the marking is generated by the ablation of material and/or the application of material. By way of example, a gas is fed to the object holder  114  by the gas feed device  1000  for the purposes of applying material and/or ablating material. The ion beam and/or the laser beam interact/interacts with the gas and the material of the object holder  114  in such a way that material is applied to the object holder  114  or ablated from the object holder  114 .  FIG. 10  shows a plan view of the object holder  114  as per  FIG. 9 . In the method according to the system described herein, a marking  705  is arranged on the first holding device  701  in the method step S 3 . By way of example, the marking  705  is generated as a marking with at least one edge, from where a first plane extends in a first dimension and a second plane extends in a second dimension. In particular, provision is made for the marking  705  to be generated as a marking with at least one first edge and with at least one second edge, where from both the first edge and from the second edge a first plane extends in a first dimension in each case and a second plane extends in a second dimension in each case. By way of example, the first planes are different from one another in each case. Further, the second planes are for example different from one another in each case. In addition or as an alternative thereto, the marking  705  is generated as a cross-shaped marking. Further additionally or in a further alternative thereto, the marking  705  is generated as a star-shaped marking. In a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the marking  705  is generated as an X-shaped marking and/or as an L-shaped marking and/or as a polygon. 
     In a method step S 4 , a reference image that includes the marking  705  is generated using the ion beam. To this end, the ion beam is guided on the marking  705  arranged on the object holder  114 . Interaction particles, in particular secondary electrons, are generated on account of an interaction of the ion beam with the marking  705 . By way of example, the interaction particles are detected using the chamber detector  119 . The detection signals generated by the chamber detector  119  are guided to the control unit  123  for the purposes of generating the reference image that includes the marking  705 . As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the reference image that includes the marking  705  to be generated using the electron beam. To this end, the electron beam is guided on the marking  705  arranged on the object holder  114 . Interaction particles, in particular secondary electrons and backscattered electrons, are generated on account of an interaction of the electron beam with the marking  705 . The interaction particles are detected using the chamber detector  119 , the first detector  116  and/or the second detector  117 . The detection signals generated by the chamber detector  119 , the first detector  116  and/or the second detector  117  are guided to the control unit  123  for the purposes of generating the reference image that includes the marking  705 . 
     The object holder  114  is moved with the sample stage  122  in a method step S 5 . By way of example, the movement of the object holder  114  includes a translational movement of the object holder  114  along the x-axis, along the y-axis and/or along the z-axis. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the object holder  114  to be rotated about the first stage axis of rotation  603  and/or about the second stage axis of rotation  607 . In particular, the aforementioned rotations include a tilt of the object holder  114 . In particular, provision is made for the object holder  114  and the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  to be rotated through 0.5° to 5°, in particular through 1° to 3° or through 1° to 2°, about the first stage axis of rotation  603  and/or the second stage axis of rotation  607  from an initial position. The aforementioned range boundaries of the angular ranges are included in the angular ranges. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned angular ranges. Rather, any suitable angular range can be used. 
     A further image that includes the marking  705  is generated in a method step S 6 . Expressed differently, a further image that includes the marking  705  is generated by imaging the marking  705  again. To this end, the ion beam is guided on the marking  705  arranged on the object holder  114 . Interaction particles, in particular secondary electrons, are generated on account of an interaction of the ion beam with the marking  705 . By way of example, the interaction particles are detected using the chamber detector  119 . The detection signals generated by the chamber detector  119  are guided to the control unit  123  for the purposes of generating the further image that includes the marking  705 . As an alternative thereto, provision is made for the further image that includes the marking  705  to be generated using the electron beam. To this end, the electron beam is guided on the marking  705  arranged on the object holder  114 . Interaction particles, in particular secondary electrons and backscattered electrons, are generated on account of an interaction of the electron beam with the marking  705 . The interaction particles are detected using the chamber detector  119 , the first detector  116  and/or the second detector  117 . The detection signals generated by the chamber detector  119 , the first detector  116  and/or the second detector  117  are guided to the control unit  123  for the purposes of generating the further image that includes the marking  705 . 
     In one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, both the reference image that includes the marking  705  and the further image that includes the marking  705  are generated by the ion beam in each case. In an alternative embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the reference image that includes the marking  705  and the further image that includes the marking  705  are generated by the electron beam in each case. 
     By way of example, the generation of the reference image that includes the marking  705  and the further image that includes the marking  705  is implemented automatically. The marking  705  is identified automatically and the region of the marking  705  is imaged using the ion beam and/or the electron beam. 
     In a method step S 7  there is a comparison of the reference image that includes the marking  705  with the further image that includes the marking  705 . By way of example, image recognition software is used to this end. Subsequently, a displacement vector is determined using the comparison of the reference image that includes the marking  705  with the further image that includes the marking  705 . By way of example, the mathematical method of cross correlation is used when determining the displacement vector. In the method according to the system described herein, the displacement of the ion beam and/or of the electron beam obtained by the movement of the object holder  114  in relation to the object  125  can be significantly greater than a rotation in relation to the object  125 . Therefore, only a displacement vector is determined in the embodiment illustrated here and the rotation is not taken into account. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is also made for the rotation to be taken into account. 
     An embodiment of the method according to the system described herein using cross correlation is explained in more detail below. In the following embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the marking  705  is embodied as a polygon with edges. In particular, (a) the reference image that includes the marking  705  is generated, (b) the further image that includes the marking  705  is generated after the object holder  114  has been moved and (c) a displacement between the reference image that includes the marking  705  and the further image that includes the marking  705  is calculated using the processor  127 . 
     The marking  705  can be defined by the coordinates x i ,y i  of each node of the marking  705  in the form of the polygon. Using the coordinates of each node, the center of the area of the marking  705  can be calculated using the processor  127  using the following equations: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     C 
                     x 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       
                         6 
                         ⁢ 
                         A 
                       
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       
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                           i 
                           = 
                           0 
                         
                         
                           n 
                           - 
                           1 
                         
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               x 
                               i 
                             
                             + 
                             
                               x 
                               
                                 i 
                                 + 
                                 1 
                               
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         · 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               
                                 x 
                                 i 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 y 
                                 
                                   i 
                                   + 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                             
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 x 
                                 
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                                   + 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 y 
                                 i 
                               
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   1 
                   ] 
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                     C 
                     y 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       
                         6 
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                         A 
                       
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       
                         ∑ 
                         
                           i 
                           = 
                           0 
                         
                         
                           n 
                           - 
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                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               y 
                               i 
                             
                             + 
                             
                               y 
                               
                                 i 
                                 + 
                                 1 
                               
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         · 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               
                                 x 
                                 i 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 y 
                                 
                                   i 
                                   + 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                             
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 x 
                                 
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                                   + 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                               · 
                               
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                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   2 
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     where A is the area of the polygon given by 
         A= ½Σ i=0   n-1 ( x   i   ·y   i+1   −x   i+1   ·y   i )  [3]
 
     The center of the area of the marking  705  in the form of the polygon is given by the coordinates C x ,C y . The center of the area of the marking  705  in the reference image is compared to the center of the area of the marking  705  in the further image. 
     On account of imprecision in the mechanism of the movement units of the sample stage  122 , there can be an unwanted relative displacement of the position of the ion beam and of the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  in the case of the movement of the object holder  114 . Expressed differently, following the movement of the object holder  114 , the ion beam no longer strikes the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  at the site on which the ion beam was focused prior to the movement of the object holder  114 . In this case, the ion beam must be positioned relative to the object  125  in such a way that the ion beam strikes the desired site of the object  125 , for example in order to be able to ablate material or analyze the object  125 . By way of example, relative positioning of the ion beam in relation to the object  125  is implemented by readjusting (i.e., positioning) the ion beam (for example using the first electrode arrangement  307  and/or the second electrode arrangement  308  and/or the second objective lens  304 ) and/or by moving the object holder  114 . Moving the object holder  114  allows relatively large displacements of several μm to be compensated. The aforementioned applies analogously to the electron beam as well. Following the movement of the object holder  114 , the electron beam no longer strikes the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  at the site on which the electron beam was focused prior to the movement of the object holder  114 . By way of example, relative positioning of the electron beam in relation to the object  125  is implemented by readjusting (i.e., positioning) the electron beam (for example using the first condenser lens  105  and/or the second condenser lens  106  and/or the first objective lens  107  and/or the scanning device  115  of the SEM  100 ) and/or by moving the object holder  114 . Moving the object holder  114  allows relatively large displacements of several μm to be compensated. Then, the electron beam strikes the desired site of the object  125  again, for example in order to be able to image and/or examine the object  125 . 
     As an alternative thereto, the electron beam can be used for imaging the marking  705  while the ion beam is used to process the object  125 . Here, the relative position of the ion beam with respect to the electron beam is set such that a correction of the displacement of the electron beam relative to the object  125  can be converted into a correction of the displacement of the ion beam relative to the object  125 . 
     A possible displacement of the center of the area is determined by correlating the reference image that includes the marking  705  with the further image that includes the marking  705 . The displacement is specified by a displacement vector (d x ,d y ). 
     Then, how the ion beam and/or the electron beam should be positioned in order to be incident again on the site of the object  125  on which the ion beam and/or the electron beam were/was incident prior to the movement of the object holder  114  is determined using the displacement vector (d x ,d y ). The corresponding coordinates of the site on which the ion beam and/or the electron beam are/is now focused are specified for example as follows: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     The ion beam and/or the electron beam are/is now positioned relative to the object  125  using the marking  705  in a method step S 8 . Expressed differently, following the movement of the object holder  114 , the ion beam and/or the electron beam are/is positioned in such a relative fashion by displacement that the ion beam and/or the electron beam are/is able to be guided to the site on the object  125  on which the ion beam and/or the electron beam were/was focused before the movement of the object holder  114 . To this end, use is made of the previously determined displacement vector. By way of example, relative positioning of the ion beam in relation to the object  125  is implemented by readjusting (i.e., positioning) the ion beam (for example using the first electrode arrangement  307  and/or the second electrode arrangement  308  and/or the second objective lens  304 ) and/or by moving the object holder  114 . By way of example, relative positioning of the electron beam in relation to the object  125  is implemented by readjusting (i.e., positioning) the electron beam (for example using the first condenser lens  105  and/or the second condenser lens  106  and/or the first objective lens  107  and/or the scanning device  115  of the SEM  100 ) and/or by moving the object holder  114 . 
     Processing, imaging and/or analyzing of the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  is implemented in a method step S 9 , for example using the ion beam and/or the electron beam. By way of example, material of the object  125  is ablated using the ion beam until the portion has a thickness of less than 100 nm, for example less than 80 nm, less than 60 nm, less than 40 nm or less than 20 nm. In particular, the thickness ranges between 1 nm and 10 nm. In one embodiment, a gas is fed to the object  125  using the gas feed device  1000  to this end, where the gas interacts with the ion beam and the object  125  in such a way that material is ablated from the object  125 . This is discussed in greater detail further below. 
     In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the processing of the object  125  to include an arrangement of material on the object  125 . By way of example, this is implemented with at least one gas being fed to the object  125  using the gas feed device  1000 , where the gas interacts with the ion beam in such a way that material is arranged on the object  125 . 
     Further additionally or in yet a further alternative, provision is made for the analysis of the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  to include an analysis of the object  125  using EDX, WDX, EBSD, TKD examinations and/or examinations using the third detector  121  of the combination apparatus  200 . To this end, the electron beam, for example, is guided to the object  125 , in particular to the aforementioned portion of the object  125  with a thickness of less than 100 nm. 
     In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  to be imaged using the ion beam and/or the electron beam. To this end, the ion beam and/or electron beam is guided to the object  125 —in particular to the aforementioned portion of the object  125  with a thickness of less than 100 nm—and scanned over the object  125 . An interaction of the ion beam and/or the electron beam with the object  125  arises. The interaction particles arising during the interaction, in particular secondary electrons, are detected, for example using the chamber detector  119 . The detection signals are transmitted to the control unit  123  in order to generate an image of the object  125 . 
     In one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the method steps S 5  to S 9  are repeated after the method step S 9 . This is of particular advantage if the thickness of the object  125  or of at least a portion of the object  125  should be reduced. This is illustrated in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 15  shows a plan view of the first holding device  701 , which has a face  706  with the marking  705 . Arranged on the first holding device  701  is the object  125 , which has a portion  708  of the object  125  whose thickness is reduced by material ablation. In order to attain this in one embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, the object holder  114  and the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  are rotated through 0.5° to 5°, in particular through 1° to 3° or through 1° to 2°, in a first direction about the first stage axis of rotation  603  and/or the second stage axis of rotation  607  from an initial position during a first run-through of the method step S 5 . The aforementioned range boundaries of the angular ranges are included in the angular ranges. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned angular ranges. Rather, any suitable angular range can be used. This is followed by the method steps S 6  to S 9 , with material being ablated from a first side of the portion  708  in the method step S 9 . The object holder  114  and the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114  are rotated through 0.5° to 5°, in particular through 1° to 3° or through 1° to 2°, in a second direction about the first stage axis of rotation  603  and/or the second stage axis of rotation  607  from the initial position during a second run-through of the method step S 5 . The second direction is counter to the first direction. The aforementioned range boundaries of the angular ranges are included in the angular ranges. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned angular ranges. Rather, any suitable angular range can be used. This is followed by the method steps S 6  to S 9 , with material being ablated from a second side of the portion  708  in the method step S 9 . The second side is arranged opposite the first side. Moreover, the first side and the second side are arranged at a distance from one another. 
       FIG. 11  shows a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein. The further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 11  is based on the embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 8 . Therefore, reference is initially made to the explanations provided above, which also apply in  FIG. 11 . In contrast to the embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 8 , the further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 11  includes a further method step S 10 , which is carried out between the method step S 1  and the method step S 2 , for example. As an alternative thereto, the method step S 10  can be carried out at any time before the method step S 3 . Initially, a face on which the marking  705  is arranged in the method step S 3  is generated on the object holder  114  in the method step S 10 . If the object holder  114  does not have a face or only has a face that is unsuitable for the arrangement of the marking  705  (for example, with an unsuitable elevation, with an unsuitable alignment, with a curved or very strongly inclined face), then this embodiment of the method according to the system described herein provides for the face to be initially generated on the object holder  114 .  FIG. 12  shows an embodiment of the object holder  114  with a first holding device  701 , with a second holding device  702 , with a third holding device  703  and with a fourth holding device  704 . The ends of the aforementioned holding devices  701 - 704  are rounded. By way of example, the object  125  is arranged on the first holding device  701 . A face on which the marking  705  is arranged in turn is arranged in the rounded region of the first holding device  701 . By way of example, the face on the first holding device  701  of the object holder  114  is then generated using the ion beam by, for example, ablating material from the first holding device  701  of the object holder  114  using the ion beam. For ablation purposes, a gas can be fed to the first holding device  701  in particular using the gas feed device  1000 . Material of the first holding device  701  is ablated on account of the interaction of the ion beam with the gas and with the material of the first holding device  701 . In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the face to be generated by applying material to the first holding device  701  using the ion beam while a gas is fed from the gas feed device  1000 .  FIG. 13  shows a schematic illustration of the first holding device  701  with the face generated on the holding device  701 , where the face is provided with a reference sign  706 . 
     In a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 8 , the object  125  is arranged on the object holder  114  in such a way in the method step S 2  that a face of the object  125  is arranged at an angle of 0° to 360°, for example 5° to 80°, with respect to a face of the object holder  114  that is freely accessible to the ion beam and/or the electron beam. By way of example, the face of the object  125  is arranged parallel to a face of the object holder  114  that is freely accessible to the ion beam and/or electron beam. This is illustrated in exemplary fashion in  FIG. 13 . The object  125  is arranged on the first holding device  701  of the object holder  114  in such a way that the face  706  on the first holding device  701  is aligned parallel to a face  707  of the object  125 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the face  707  of the object  125  and the face  706  of the first holding device  701  are arranged in a single plane. Expressed differently, the face  707  of the object  125  and the face  706  of the first holding device  701  are level. The marking  705  is generated and arranged on the face  706  of the first holding device  701 . This embodiment of the method according to the system described herein ensures particularly good positioning of the ion beam and/or of the electron beam relative to the object  125  since the marking  705  and the object  125  are arranged in a single plane. In addition or as an alternative thereto, provision is made for the face  707  of the object  125  and the face  706  of the first holding device  701  to be arranged in different planes. This is illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  is based on  FIG. 13 . Identical component parts are provided with identical reference signs. 
     According to yet a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 8 , provision is made for the ion beam, used for example to generate the marking  705  on the object holder  114  in the method step S 3 , to have a specifiable beam current. By way of example, the beam current of the ion beam ranges between 10 pA and 500 pA. The range boundaries are included in the range. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned range. Instead, any suitable range can be used. In this embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is made for (i) the reference image that includes the marking  705  to be generated, (ii) the further image that includes the marking  705  to be generated and (iii) processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object  125  to be implemented using the ion beam with the specifiable beam current. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the method according to the system described herein, provision is made for the ion beam to always be operated with the same beam current (specifically, the specifiable beam current), to be precise when generating the reference image that includes the marking  705 , when generating the further image that includes the marking  705 , when processing, when imaging and/or when analyzing the object  125 . 
     In yet a further embodiment of the method according to the system described herein as per  FIG. 8 , provision is made for the ion beam to have a specifiable first beam current or a specifiable second beam current. The generation of the reference image that includes the marking  705  is implemented using the ion beam with the specifiable first beam current. By way of example, the first beam current of the ion beam ranges between 1 nA and 10 nA. The range boundaries are included in the range. Explicit reference is made to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the aforementioned range. Instead, any range that is suitable can be used. The second beam current of the ion beam ranges between 10 pA and 500 pA, for example. By way of example, the further image that includes the marking  705  is generated using the ion beam with the first beam current or with the second beam current. Moreover, processing, imaging and/or analyzing the object  125  are/is implemented using the ion beam with the second beam current. 
     The system described herein is also advantageous in that, in particular following a movement of the object holder  114  but also after any other relative movement of the object holder  114  in relation to the particle beam (and/or the laser beam, if the latter is used), relative positioning of the particle beam and/or of the laser beam is easily facilitated in relation to the object  125  arranged on the object holder  114 . In particular, the relative positioning of the particle beam and/or of the laser beam in relation to the object  125  can be carried out automatically. 
     None of the described embodiments of the method according to the invention is restricted to the aforementioned sequence of the explained method steps. Rather, any sequence of the aforementioned method steps suitable for the invention can be chosen. The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention in the various embodiments thereof, both individually and in arbitrary combinations. The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments and may be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the relevant person skilled in the art.