Patent ID: 8859984

Claim:
A method for inspecting a sample surface by using sample surface inspection apparatus, in which an electron beam generated by an electron gun of the sample surface inspection apparatus is irradiated onto the sample surface, and secondary electrons emanating from the sample surface are formed into an image toward an electron detection plane of a detector for inspecting the sample surface, the method characterized in that a condition for forming the secondary electrons into an image on the detection plane of the detector is controlled such that a potential in the sample surface varies in dependence on an amount of the electron beam irradiated onto the sample surface, a method for controlling the condition for forming the secondary electrons into an image is provided by modifying a sample voltage or a retarding voltage in dependence on an amount of the electron beam irradiated onto the sample surface, and the variation of the potential in the sample surface is computed in consideration of a blanking for preventing the electron beam from being irradiated onto the sample surface.