Auger electron spectrometer capable of attaining a high resolution

Abstract

In an Auger electron spectrometer for use in analyzing a surface of an object by the use of Auger electrons resulting from impingement of an electron beam, an electron gun comprises an electron beam source for generating the electron beam and an electron lens system for guiding the electron beam towards the surface. The electron lens system comprises a combination of a condenser lens and a permanent magnet member nearer to the surface than the condenser lens. The permanent magnet member may comprise either a plurality of permanent magnet pieces radially and azimuthally spaced apart from one another or a single permanent magnet piece. An ion gun may be disposed in the vicinity of the electron gun to generate an ion beam oblique to the electron beam and substantially concurrent with the electron beam on the surface. Magnetic pole pieces may be attached to each permanent magnet piece and bypassed to control a magnetic field generated by each permanent magnet piece. Each permanent magnet piece may be coated with a combination of a nonmagnetic film and a magnetic film. Anyway, the electron gun can be disposed in an inner cylindrical space of an inner cylindrical electrode member when the electron spectrometer is of a cylindrical mirror type.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.