Patent ID: 8481933

Claim:
A method for examining a surface of an object using a particle beam, the object being situated in a sample chamber, the method comprising: supplying the particle beam to a preselectable location on the surface of the object; and supplying at least one gas to the preselectable location, the gas being used for at least one of: charge neutralization at the preselectable location on the surface of the object, charge distribution away from the preselectable location on the surface of the object, and removal or avoidance of contamination of the object, wherein the gas has a partial pressure greater than or equal to 20 Pa, and wherein a total pressure in the sample chamber is less than or equal to 1 Pa during the supplying of the gas, wherein the gas is supplied as a first gas to the preselectable location on the surface of the object, and wherein a second gas is supplied to the preselectable location on the surface of the object, the second gas being used for treating the surface of the object at the preselectable location, wherein the partial pressure of the first gas is preselected as a first partial pressure, wherein the second gas has a second partial pressure, and wherein the first partial pressure is higher than the second partial pressure.