Fei Comapny

Casper Maria Smit

Pleun Dona

Rients Jan De Groot

Johannes Antonius Maria Van Den Oetelaar

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing an X-ray shield within an ultra-high vacuum enclosure. A shell is fabricated, leak-tested, filled with an X-ray shielding material, and sealed. An elongated twisted X-ray shield can be deployed within a pump-out channel of an electron microscope or similar equipment. The shield can incorporate lead within a stainless steel shell, with optional low-Z cladding outside the shell. Further variations are disclosed.

Vacuum compatible X-ray shield

An axial alignment assembly () comprising a first body and a second body. The first body has a substantially cylindrical outer jacket, and has a first alignment axis. The second body comprises a substantially cylindrical inner jacket, and has a second alignment axis. The second body is positioned with respect to said first body in so that said inner jacket faces said outer jacket and in between said inner jacket and said outer jacket a substantially annular recess is formed. The axial alignment assembly further comprises a plurality of resilient elements that are positioned within said annular recess, wherein each resilient element is in contact with said outer jacket of said first body and with said inner jacket of said second body. Each resilient element exerts a force onto said outer jacket and onto said inner jacket for aligning said first alignment axis and said second alignment axis.

Axial alignment assembly, and charged particle microscope comprising such an alignment assembly

An x-ray shield for improved vacuum conductivity is disclosed herein. An example x-ray shield includes at least one elongate member formed from high atomic weight material shaped into a twist with at least 180&#xb0; of twist.

X-ray and particle shield for improved vacuum conductivity

A method and apparatus for reducing drift in a charged particle beam system. The method includes providing a charged particle beam column including a charged particle beam, a lens system, and a sample chamber; disposing a temperature-controlled device between the lens system and the sample chamber to control heat transfer between the lens system and the sample chamber; and controlling the temperature of the temperature-controlled device to reduce or eliminate the thermal drift of the position of a sample within the sample chamber relative to the position of the charged particle beam.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Casper Maria Smit