Modelling of focused ion beam induced increases in sample temperature: a case study of heat damage in biological samples.

Abstract

FIB/SEMs, which combine a scanning electron microscope with a focused ion beam in a single device, have found increasing interest biological research. The device allows to cut samples at precisely selected areas and reveal sub surface information as well as preparing transmission electron microscope samples from bulk materials. Preparing biological samples has proven to be challenging due to the induced heat damage. This work explores the physics behind the sample cutting and proposes a model and a method, based on physical principles which allows the user to estimate the induced heat during the cutting process and to select cutting parameters which avoid heat damage in the sample.