title: The effects of space charge on contrast in images obtained using the environmental scanning electron microscope
abstract: We present experimental evidence for the existence of a space charge in the environmental scanning electron microscope. Space charge formation is attributed to differences in the mobilities of negative and positive charge carriers in the imaging gas. A model is proposed for the behavior of space charge during image acquisition. The effects of space charge on images acquired using the gaseous secondary electron detector, ion current, and backscattered electron signals are interpreted using the proposed model.
authors.affiliation: Microstructural Analysis Unit, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Phillips