Electron lens and charged particle beam apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a compact electron lens causing little aberration, and a charged particle beam apparatus such as a scanning electron microscope that is super compact and offers a high resolution. An upper magnetic pole and a sample-side magnetic pole are magnetically coupled to the respective poles of a permanent magnet that is made of a highly strong magnetic material such as a rare-earth cobalt system or a neodymium-iron-boron system, that is axially symmetrical, and that has a hole in the center thereof. An inner gap is created on the side of a center axis. Thus, a magnetic lens is formed axially. Moreover, a semi-stationary magnetic path that shields an outside magnetic field and has the magnetic reluctance thereof regulated is disposed outside. The sample-side magnetic pole and magnetic path defines a region where magnetic reluctance is the highest outside the permanent magnet. A space defined by the permanent magnet, upper magnetic pole, sample-die magnetic pole, and semi-stationary magnetic path is filled with a filling made of a non-magnetic material. Thus, an objective lens is constructed.