PATTERN INSPECTION AND MEASUREMENT APPARATUS

摘要

Pattern inspection and measurement technique where the failure of the detection of a secondary signal due to the variation of an optical condition of a primary electron beam or the occurrence of an electric field perpendicular to a traveling direction of the primary electron beam in a surface of a wafer is minimized, an SEM image the SN ratio of which is high and which hardly has shading in a field of view can be acquired and measurement such as measuring the dimensions and configuration of a measured object and inspecting a defect is enabled at high precision and high repeatability. A lens for converging a secondary signal is installed in a position which a traveling direction of the primary electron beam crosses or on a course of the secondary signal spatially separated from the primary electron beam by Wien filter. An SEM image always free of shading caused by the failure of the detection of a secondary signal in the field of view can be acquired by providing a unit that changes the setting of the lens according to the optical condition such as retarding voltage and an electrification control electrode of the primary electron beam.