Patent ID: 7554094

Claim:
A particle arrangement providing a primary beam path for a primary beam of charged particles to an object, and providing a secondary beam path for charged-particles extending from the object to a detector arrangement, the particle-optical arrangement comprising: at least one charged-particle source for generating at least one beam of charged particles, the primary beam path extending from the at least one charged-particle source to the object; a first focusing lens providing a focusing magnetic field; an objective lens; and a beam splitter, wherein the beam splitter is disposed in the primary beam path between the at least one charged-particle source and the objective lens and in the secondary beam path between the objective lens and the detector arrangement; wherein the objective lens provides a focusing magnetic field for the charged-particles of the primary beam and for the charged particles of the secondary beam; and wherein the at least one charged-particle source is arranged within the magnetic field provided by the first focusing lens.