Patent · US Expired

Scanning-aperture electron microscope for magnetic imaging

US6313461A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
9References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 19, 1999
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 19, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/045
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A scanning-aperture electron microscope system and method in which a radiation source generates a radiation beam that is incident upon a surface of a sample material causing electrons to be ejected from the surface. When magnetic imaging is being performed, a polarization rotator polarization-modulates the radiation beam. A scanning-aperture probe having an aperture is positioned in proxiity to the surface of the sample material so that photoelectrons ejected from the surface of the sample material pass through the aperture. A detector detects the electrons passing through the aperture. The electron detector outputs a signal in response to the detected electrons that is used for imaging magnetic and/or spectroscopic features of the surface of the sample material. The resolution of the imaged features is about equal to a size of the aperture.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.