FIB/SEM Dual Beam Instrumentation: Slicing, Dicing, Imaging, and More

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In a focused ion beam (FIB) instrument, ions (typically Ga+) obtained from a liquid metal ion source are accelerated down a column at energies up to ∽ 50 keV. The beam of ions is focused by electrostatic and octopole lens systems and the ion dose (and beam diameter) is controlled using real and/or virtual apertures. Beam sizes in FIB instruments on the order of 5-7 nm may be achieved.The versatility of the FIB instrument enables large regions of material (e.g., 500 μm3) to be removed at high beam currents in just a couple of minutes. Lower beam currents (i.e., beam diameters) are usually used to remove smaller amounts of material within the same time frame (e.g., ∽ 5μm3). The introduction of an organometallic gas in close proximity to the target allows for the deposition of metals, SiO2, and other materials, by an ion beam assisted chemical vapor deposition process.