Keysight adds EDS capabilities to FE-SEM system

Keysight Technologies today announced the immediate availability of its newest field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), the 8500B. The Keysight 8500B offers scientists the analytical power of energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), fully integrated within a remarkably compact, low-voltage FE-SEM. Keysight designed this easy-to-install, plug-and-play FE-SEM for use in practically any lab; it requires only an AC power outlet.

The new 8500B system’s fully integrated silicon-drift X-ray detector, digital multichannel analyzer, and intuitive software interface put EDS capabilities at researchers’ fingertips, allowing them to perform quantitative elemental analysis on arbitrary points, on a continuous line scan, or in a user-defined regional map. The Keysight 8500B is capable of detecting elements as light as carbon, up to americium.

EDS results are analyzed and displayed in real time, and researchers can export the data for further off-line analysis. Keysight’s patented event-streamed spectrum imaging saves the full spectrum at every pixel for analysis and display. Dynamic element mapping allows real-time selection or editing of elements and processing parameters during spectrum image collection.

The 8500B also offers several low-voltage imaging techniques for enhancing surface contrast and allowing the observation of nanoscale features on a wide variety of nanostructured materials, including polymers, thin films, biomaterials, and other energy-sensitive samples on any substrate, even glass. A compact electrostatic lens and electron beam column design helps guarantee consistent, replicable performance without constant re-tuning of the column.

In addition, continuously variable beam energy optimized for low-voltage operation minimizes the need to conductively coat samples when using the Keysight 8500B FE-SEM. A software-controlled, programmable X/Y/Z stage enables simple sample navigation.

www.keysight.com/find/fe-sem

About the Author

Rick Nelson

Rick Nelson

Contributing Editor

Rick Nelson is a technical journalist who has served as executive editor of Test & Measurement World, chief editor of EDN, and executive editor of EE-Evaluation Engineering. He has also contributed to publications including Vision Systems Design and Electronic Design, and he has participated in many live panel discussions and webcasts. Rick has also held systems-engineering and product-development positions at General Electric and Litton Industries. He received his B.S.E.E. degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

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