Applied Materials, Inc.

Etec Systems, Inc.

Rudy F Garcia

Lee H Veneklasen

William J DeVore

An enhanced electron source in most respects similar to a standard cathode assembly for an electron gun includes an electron emitter surrounded by a suppressor electrode, the emitted electrons passing through an extractor electrode. Additionally, the suppressor electrode includes a small ring shaped permanent magnet surrounding the opening in the suppressor electrode through which the emitter tip protrudes. The resulting magnetic field is aligned with the beam axis, and includes a tail which forms a very short focal length magnetic lens immediately following the emitter tip. This magnetic field collimates the electron beam before it enters the downstream electrostatic gun lens, thus increasing the effective angular intensity of the cathode assembly. The aberrations of this collimating lens are very low so that its useful brightness is not reduced. Also the influence of guns lens aberrations is reduced because a smaller aperture angle in the gun lens may be used to obtain higher beam current.

Electron gun having magnetic collimator

A solid state electron or x-ray detector is mounted within the time-varying magnetic deflection fields of a charged particle beam system. A minimum volume of high resistivity conductors and insulating materials are used in the mounting to minimize eddy currents that otherwise cause dynamic deflection distortions. Segmented conductive elastomer members make electrical and mechanical contact with the active surface of the detector. A flexible PC board connects the detector active areas to external signal processing electronics.

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Neward, CA, United States of America

Rudy F Garcia