A positioner for analytical instruments (e.g., atom probe microscopes or other nanoscale microscopes) includes a major carriage translatable with respect to a vacuum chamber wall, and a minor carriage connected to the major carriage by multiple spaced actuators allowing the minor carriage to translate and/or tilt with respect to the major carriage. Arms then extend from the minor carriage through the vacuum chamber wall to connect to an instrument. The instrument may be rapidly extended or retracted within the vacuum chamber via its connection to the major carriage, and may be more finely translated and/or tilted via its connection to the minor carriage. A damping arrangement isolates the instrument from vibration.
A positioner for analytical instruments (e.g., atom probe microscopes or other nanoscale microscopes) includes a major carriage translatable with respect to a vacuum chamber wall, and a minor carriage connected to the major carriage by multiple spaced actuators allowing the minor carriage to translate and/or tilt with respect to the major carriage. Arms then extend from the minor carriage through the vacuum chamber wall to connect to an instrument. The instrument may be rapidly extended or retracted within the vacuum chamber via its connection to the major carriage, and may be more finely translated and/or tilted via its connection to the minor carriage. A damping arrangement isolates the instrument from vibration.
An atom probe directs two or more pulsed laser beams onto a specimen, with each laser beam being on a different side of the specimen, and with each laser beam supplying pulses at a time different from the other laser beams. The laser beams are preferably generated by splitting a single beam provided by a laser source. The laser beams are preferably successively aligned incident with the specimen by one or more beam steering mirrors, which may also scan each laser beam over the specimen to achieve a desired degree of specimen ionization.
H01J 37/285 - Microscopes à émission, p. ex. microscopes à émission de champ
G01Q 60/30 - Microscopie à mesure de potentiel à balayage
G01N 27/626 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'emploi de moyens électriques, électrochimiques ou magnétiques en recherchant l'ionisation des gaz, p. ex. des aérosolsRecherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'emploi de moyens électriques, électrochimiques ou magnétiques en recherchant les décharges électriques, p. ex. l'émission cathodique utilisant la chaleur pour ioniser un gaz
G01N 27/66 - Utilisation de l'onde ou de la radiation des particules pour ioniser un gaz, p. ex. dans une chambre d'ionisation et mesure de l'intensité ou de la tension électriques
G01Q 60/38 - Sondes, leur fabrication ou leur instrumentation correspondante, p. ex. supports
An atom probe directs two or more pulsed laser beams onto a specimen, with each laser beam being on a different side of the specimen, and with each laser beam supplying pulses at a time different from the other laser beams. The laser beams are preferably generated by splitting a single beam provided by a laser source. The laser beams are preferably successively aligned incident with the specimen by one or more beam steering mirrors, which may also scan each laser beam over the specimen to achieve a desired degree of specimen ionization.
In an atom probe having a specimen mount spaced from a detector, and preferably having a local electrode situated next to the specimen mount, a lens assembly is insertable between the specimen (and any local electrode) and detector. The lens assembly includes a decelerating electrode biased to decelerate ions from the specimen mount and an accelerating mesh biased to accelerate ions from the specimen mount. The decelerating electrode and accelerating mesh cooperate to divert the outermost ions from the specimen mount—which correspond to the peripheral areas of a specimen—so that they reach the detector, whereas they would ordinarily be lost. Because the detector now detects the outermost ions, the peripheral areas of the specimen are now imaged by the detector, providing the detector with a greatly increased field of view of the specimen, as much as 100 degrees (full angle) or more.
−1 Pa, very little gas diffusion takes place through the aperture, allowing higher vacuum to be maintained in the subchamber despite the aperture opening to the chamber. The higher vacuum in the subchamber about the specimen assists in reducing noise in atom probe image data. The aperture may conveniently be provided by the aperture in a counter electrode, such as a local electrode, as commonly used in atom probes.
In an atom probe having a specimen mount spaced from a detector, and preferably having a local electrode situated next to the specimen mount, a lens assembly is insertable between the specimen (and any local electrode) and detector. The lens assembly includes a decelerating electrode biased to decelerate ions from the specimen mount and an accelerating mesh biased to accelerate ions from the specimen mount, with the decelerating electrode being situated closer to the specimen mount and the decelerating electrode being situated closer to the detector. The decelerating electrode and accelerating mesh cooperate to divert the outermost ions from the specimen mount - which correspond to the peripheral areas of a specimen - so that they reach the detector, whereas they would ordinarily be lost. Because the detector now detects the outermost ions, the peripheral areas of the specimen are now imaged by the detector, providing the detector with a greatly increased field of view of the specimen, as much as 100 degrees (full angle) or more.
An atom probe includes a detector which registers the time of flight of ions evaporated from a specimen, as well as the positions on the detector at which the ions impact and the kinetic energies of the ions. The detected position allows the original locations of the ions on the specimen to be mapped, and the times of flight and kinetic energies can be spectrally analyzed (e.g., binned into sets of like values) to determine the elemental identities of the ions. The use of kinetic energy data as well as time of flight data can allow more accurate identification of composition than where time of flight data are used alone, as in traditional atom probes.
The present invention is directed generally toward atom probe and TEM data and associated systems and methods. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward combining APT data and TEM data into a unified data set. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward using the data from one instrument to improve the quality of data obtained from another instrument.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
G06K 9/32 - Alignement ou centrage du capteur d'image ou de la zone image
Aspects of the present invention are directed generally toward atom probe and three-dimensional atom probe microscopes. For example, certain aspects of the invention are directed -toward an atom probe or a three-dimensional atom probe that includes a sub-nanosecond laser to evaporate ions from a specimen under analysis and a reflectron for reflecting the ions. In further aspects of the invention, the reflectron can include a front electrode and a back electrode. At least one of the front and back electrodes can be capable of generating a curved electric field. Additionally, the front electrode and back electrodes can be configured to perform time focusing and resolve an image of a specimen.
A laser atom probe situates a counter electrode between a specimen mount and a detector, and provides a laser having its beam aligned to illuminate the specimen through the aperture of the counter electrode. The detector, specimen mount, and/or the counter electrode may be charged to some boost voltage and then be pulsed to bring the specimen to ionization. The timing of the laser pulses may be used to determine ion departure and arrival times allowing determination of the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions, thus their identities. Automated alignment methods are described wherein the laser is automatically directed to areas of interest.
G01N 23/04 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en transmettant la radiation à travers le matériau et formant des images des matériaux
H01J 27/24 - Sources d'ionsCanons à ions utilisant l'ionisation photo-électrique, p. ex. utilisant un faisceau laser
13.
Atom probes, atom probe specimens, and associated methods
The present invention relates generally to atom probes, atom probe specimens, and associated methods. For example, certain aspects are directed toward methods for analyzing a portion of a specimen that includes selecting a region of interest and moving a portion of material in a border region proximate to the region of interest so that at least a portion of the region of interest protrudes relative to at least a portion of the border region. The method further includes analyzing a portion of the region of interest. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method for applying photonic energy in an atom probe process by passing photonic energy through a lens system separated from a photonic device and spaced apart from the photonic device. Yet other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method for reflecting photonic energy off an outer surface of an electrode onto a specimen.
G01N 23/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou
A laser atom probe (100) situates a counter electrode between a specimen mount and a detector (106), and provides a laser (116) having its beam (122) aligned to illuminate the specimen (104) through the aperture (110) of the counter electrode (108). The detector, specimen mount (102), and then be pulsed to bring the specimen to ionization. The timing of the laser pulses may be used to determine ion departure and arrival times allowing determination of the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions, thus their identities. Automated alignment methods are described wherein the laser is automatically directed to areas of interest.
G01N 23/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou
G21K 7/00 - Microscopes à rayons gamma ou à rayons X
A laser atom probe (100) situates a counter electrode between a specimen mount and a detector (106), and provides a laser (116) having its beam (122) aligned to illuminate the specimen (104) through the aperture (110) of the counter electrode (108). The detector, specimen mount (102), and/or the counter electrode may be charged to some boost voltage and then be pulsed to bring the specimen to ionization. The timing of the laser pulses may be used to determine ion departure and arrival times allowing determination of the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions, thus their identities. Automated alignment methods are described wherein the laser is automatically directed to areas of interest.
G01B 5/28 - Dispositions pour la mesure caractérisées par l'utilisation de techniques mécaniques pour mesurer la rugosité ou l'irrégularité des surfaces
H01J 37/285 - Microscopes à émission, p. ex. microscopes à émission de champ
H01J 49/00 - Spectromètres pour particules ou tubes séparateurs de particules
09 - Appareils et instruments scientifiques et électriques
Produits et services
SCIENTIFIC IMAGING AND MEASUREMENT DEVICES FOR MATTER ANALYSIS, NAMELY - ATOM PROBE MICROSCOPES; ACCESSORIES FOR ATOM PROBE MICROSCOPES, NAMELY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPES, OPTICAL MICROSCOPES, AND RESIDUAL GAS ANALYZERS; AND PARTS AND FITTINGS FOR ALL OF THE FOREGOING
