Patent ID: 7522510

Claim:
An electron beam applying apparatus for applying an electron beam to a surface of a material for recording information on the surface of the material, comprising: a thermal field emission type electron source emitting an electron beam; an electrostatic lens, disposed immediately below the electron source, acting as a condensing electrode for condensing the electron beam in a first angular aperture emitted by the electron source, in a second angular aperture smaller than the first angular aperture; a condenser lens disposed on a downstream side of the electrostatic lens, condensing the electron beam once condensed in the second aperture angle by the electrostatic lens, in a crossover point; and an objective lens disposed on a downstream side of the condenser lens, condensing the electron beam once condensed in the crossover point by the condenser lens, on the surface of the material, wherein: a beam diameter reduction ratio of the electron beam condensed on the surface of the material with respect to a beam diameter of the electron beam emitted by the electron source when the electrostatic lens is not applied is set within a range between 1 and 10.