Patent ID: 8604429

Claim:
An electron beam device comprising: an electron source for emitting primary electron beams: electron beam control means for condensing the electron beams emitted from said electron source and irradiating the electron beams to a sample; a detector for detecting the electrons generated from said sample; a control means for forming a sample image on the basis of signals from said detector; a display means for displaying said sample image; and a sample holding means for holding said sample in a sample chamber; wherein said sample holding means includes a gas supply means for supplying a gas to said sample and an exhaust means for exhausting said gas; wherein a cell is constituted in such a manner that diaphragms are arranged above and below said sample, an atmosphere of the gas and vacuum of said sample chamber are isolated and an atmosphere around said sample is sealed; wherein a mechanism for spraying the gas is arranged outside said diaphragms and inside said sample chamber; and wherein a gas layer having a pressure higher than vacuum is formed outside said diaphragms.