Gas cascade amplification in ultra-high-resolution environmental scanning electron microcopy
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2010, 16 (6), pp. 805 - 809
- Issue Date:
- 2010-12-01
Open Access
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Open Access
This item is open access.
We describe a feedback mechanism in the gas cascade amplification process used in magnetic immersion lens environmental scanning electron microcopy (ESEM). Feedback dominates gas gain under the conditions typically used for ultra-high-resolution ESEM and gives rise to novel dependencies of the imaging signal and noise on microscope operating parameters. It is ascribed tentatively to the generation of free electrons upon de-excitation of metastable species in the gas cascade. The results have implications for optimization of ESEM systems for applications such as critical dimension metrology and real-time imaging of nanostructure growth by gas mediated electron beam induced deposition. © Microscopy Society of America 2010.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: