Patent ID: 8766184

Claim:
A scanning electron microscope provided with a specimen chamber for storing a target substance, and a vacuum pump for evacuating the specimen chamber into a vacuum, the scanning electron microscope comprising: a gas introduction pipe for introducing a gas into the specimen chamber evacuated into a vacuum by use of the vacuum pump; a electron optical tube for detecting an ion current, the ion current being generated by amplifying a secondary electron, or a reflection electron, emitted from the target substance, upon irradiation of the target substance in the specimen chamber with a primary electron beam, in the gas; a probe for adsorbing the target substance; a probe-movable mechanism for causing the probe to be moved inside the specimen chamber; and a power supply unit for applying a voltage for generating an electrostatic adsorption force to the probe; wherein the power supply unit applies the voltage for electrostatically adsorbing the target without an electrical discharge against a degree of vacuum in the specimen chamber.