Patent ID: 7110172

Claim:
A sample observation method of observing a sample at a predetermined observation plane and through an optical system comprising an objective lens, the sample observation method comprising: a normal image observation step of observing a normal image of the sample in a state of placing a solid immersion lens at a standby position off an optical axis from the sample to the optical system; a correction step of placing the solid immersion lens at an insertion position including the optical axis from the sample to the optical system and carrying out focusing and aberration correction under a correction condition set based on a refractive index n 0 of the sample and a thickness t 0 of the sample up to the observation plane, and a refractive index n 1 , a thickness d 1 , and a radius of curvature R 1 of the solid immersion lens; and an enlarged image observation step of observing an enlarged image of the sample in a state after completion of the focusing and aberration correction in the correction step.