Patent ID: 7435973

Claim:
A material processing system, comprising: a processing chamber; an electron microscope, having an electron source for generating an electron beam, at least one focusing lens for focusing the electron beam in an object plane within the processing chamber, and at least one electron detector for detecting electrons emanating from the object plane; and a work piece mount configured for mounting a work piece to be processed in the processing chamber such that a surface portion of the work piece substantially coincides with the object plane of the electron microscope; wherein the electron microscope comprises at least first and second pressure diaphragms, each having an aperture for the electron beam to pass therethrough, wherein the first pressure diaphragm partially separates a vacuum section of the processing chamber from an intermediate vacuum section, wherein the second pressure diaphragm partially separates the intermediate vacuum section from a vacuum section accommodating the electron source; wherein the system further comprises a pumping arrangement having a first vacuum pipe communicating the intermediate vacuum section with a first vacuum pump of the pumping arrangement, and wherein a first electron detector of the electron microscope is accommodated in the intermediate vacuum section; wherein a focusing lens of the electron microscope disposed next to the object plane is disposed between the first electron detector and the object plane, wherein the first pressure diaphragm of the electron microscope is disposed next to the object plane and comprises a substantially ring-shaped projection extending towards the object plane, the aperture of the first pressure diaphragm being located interior to the substantially ring-shaped projection and being spaced apart from the substantially ring-shaped projection, wherein the electron beam traverses the aperture of the first pressure diaphragm; and wherein the system further comprises a gas supply arrangement configured to supply at least one reactive gas into a partially enclosed region formed between the first pressure diaphragm disposed next to the object plane and the work piece, and wherein the work piece mount is configured to hold the work piece such that a gap of less than 100 μm is formed between the substantially ring-shaped projection of the first pressure diaphragm and the work piece such that the proximity of the first pressure diaphragm to the work piece forms said partially enclosed region therebetween.