The OPTICS Family

The OPTICS Family

Charged Particle Optical Column Design

OPTICS is our core family of packages. It is used for the simulation and design of electron and ion optical columns consisting of any combination of round electron lenses and deflectors.

OPTICS Flowchart

Packages

OPTICS-LITE

Column simulation (limited functionality).

 

The OPTICS-LITE software is an entry level version of the core OPTICS package, but with reduced functionality. The package also includes simple tolerancing capabilities.

The simulation is limited to a single round electrostatic lens and single round magnetic lens, and there is no option for deflector simulation within this package.

Purchase Options: Base Package

OPTICS

Column simulation (full functionality).

 

The OPTICS software is a package for the simulation and design of charged particle columns consisting of any combination of round lenses and deflectors. Its purpose is to assist with the field computation in individual lenses and deflectors, the computation of the optical properties and aberrations of any combination of such elements and the graphical display of the effects of the aberrations.

Purchase Options:  Base Package, Upgrade from OPTICS-LITE, Rocking beam option (RB-3)

REFINE

Column optimisation.

 

The REFINE module takes the initial design of the column, and interactively refines it to optimise the performance. A particle beam column contains many design parameters that can be varied and there are numerous aberrations which each depend on the variable parameters. REFINE allows the user to choose which design parameter to vary and which aberration to target.  The program then runs several optimisation cycles and generally yields designs with better properties than those obtained through trial and error.

Purchase Options: Upgrade from OPTICS

DYNAMIC

Dynamic correction elements design.

 

The DYNAMIC module allows the user to compensate for certain deflection aberrations by the  application of correction signals at each point in the deflection field.  These dynamic correction signals are applied using stigmators for the correction of deflection astigmatism, and dynamic focus lenses for the correction of deflection field curvature.

DYNAMIC may be used to design such stigmators and dynamic focus lenses. The field functions of the stigmators and dynamic focus lenses are used to compute the required strengths to correct the deflection astigmatism and field curvature.

Purchase Options: Upgrade from OPTICS

REFINE-5

Charged particle column optimization of aberrations up to 5th-order.

 

The REFINE-5 module extends the functionality of REFINE to allow the optimisation of the aberrations up to 5th-order terms.

Purchase Options: Upgrade from REFINE or ABER-5 Requires SOFEM Field

DYNAMIC-5

Dynamic correction elements design with aberrations up to 5th-order.

 

The DYNAMIC-5 module provides the functionality of DYNAMIC, but computes the aberrations up to 5th-order terms.

Purchase Options: Upgrade from DYNAMIC or ABER-5 Requires SOFEM Field

TOLERANCE

Column tolerancing.

 

Real columns suffer from asymmetry errors caused by small mechanical imperfections during construction and alignment.  Using the TOLERANCE software the user can compute the perturbation fields  and aberrations due to tilts, misalignments and ellipticities in the electrodes, to ensure that the system will perform in accordance with its design specifications.

Purchase Options: Upgrade from OPTICS

ABER-5

5th-order aberrations.

 

ABER-5 extends the capabilities of the OPTICS package to compute the higher-order aberrations of complete columns – specifically the 5th-order geometric and 3rd-order chromatic aberrations.

Purchase Options: Upgrade from OPTICS Requires SOFEM Field Rocking beam option (RB-5)

Don’t know what software package is right for you?