Performance and applications of a field-emission gun TEM/STEM

Author(s):  
Judith M. Brock ◽  
Max T. Otten ◽  
Marc. J.C. de Jong

A Field Emission Gun (FEG) on a TEM/STEM instrument provides a major improvement in performance relative to one equipped with a LaB6 emitter. The improvement is particularly notable for small-probe techniques: EDX and EELS microanalysis, convergent beam diffraction and scanning. The high brightness of the FEG (108 to 109 A/cm2srad), compared with that of LaB6 (∼106), makes it possible to achieve high probe currents (∼1 nA) in probes of about 1 nm, whilst the currents for similar probes with LaB6 are about 100 to 500x lower. Accordingly the small, high-intensity FEG probes make it possible, e.g., to analyse precipitates and monolayer amounts of segregation on grain boundaries in metals or ceramics (Fig. 1); obtain high-quality convergent beam patterns from heavily dislocated materials; reliably detect 1 nm immuno-gold labels in biological specimens; and perform EDX mapping at nm-scale resolution even in difficult specimens like biological tissue.The high brightness and small energy spread of the FEG also bring an advantage in high-resolution imaging by significantly improving both spatial and temporal coherence.

Author(s):  
Max T. Otten ◽  
Wim M.J. Coene

High-resolution imaging with a LaB6 instrument is limited by the spatial and temporal coherence, with little contrast remaining beyond the point resolution. A Field Emission Gun (FEG) reduces the incidence angle by a factor 5 to 10 and the energy spread by 2 to 3. Since the incidence angle is the dominant limitation for LaB6 the FEG provides a major improvement in contrast transfer, reducing the information limit to roughly one half of the point resolution. The strong improvement, predicted from high-resolution theory, can be seen readily in diffractograms (Fig. 1) and high-resolution images (Fig. 2). Even if the information in the image is limited deliberately to the point resolution by using an objective aperture, the improved contrast transfer close to the point resolution (Fig. 1) is already worthwhile.


Author(s):  
J. A. Eades ◽  
A. E. Smith ◽  
D. F. Lynch

It is quite simple (in the transmission electron microscope) to obtain convergent-beam patterns from the surface of a bulk crystal. The beam is focussed onto the surface at near grazing incidence (figure 1) and if the surface is flat the appropriate pattern is obtained in the diffraction plane (figure 2). Such patterns are potentially valuable for the characterization of surfaces just as normal convergent-beam patterns are valuable for the characterization of crystals.There are, however, several important ways in which reflection diffraction from surfaces differs from the more familiar electron diffraction in transmission.GeometryIn reflection diffraction, because of the surface, it is not possible to describe the specimen as periodic in three dimensions, nor is it possible to associate diffraction with a conventional three-dimensional reciprocal lattice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 217 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Yan ◽  
Jianjun Liu ◽  
Xin Ren ◽  
Chunlai Li ◽  
Qiang Fu ◽  
...  

AbstractHigh-resolution optical cameras have always been important scientific payloads in Mars exploration missions, which can obtain detailed images of Martian surface for the study of geomorphology, topography and geological structure. At present, there are still many challenges for Mars high-resolution images in terms of global coverage, stereo coverage (especially for colour images), and data processing methods. High Resolution Imaging Camera (HiRIC) is a high-quality, multi-mode, multi-functional, multi-spectral remote sensing camera that is suitable for the deep space developed for China’s first Mars Exploration Mission (Tianwen-1), which was successfully launched in July 2020. Here we design special experiments based on the in-orbit detection conditions of Tianwen-1 mission to comprehensively verify the detection capability and the performance of HiRIC, from the aspects of image motion compensation effect, focusing effect, image compression quality, and data preprocessing accuracy. The results showed that the performance status of HiRIC meets the requirements of obtaining high resolution images on the Martian surface. Furthermore, proposals for HiRIC in-orbit imaging strategy and data processing are discussed to ensure the acquisition of high-quality HiRIC images, which is expected to serve as a powerful complementation to the current Mars high-resolution images.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Haugh ◽  
Richard Stewart

This paper describes the design, crystal selection, and crystal testing for a vertical Johann spectrometer operating in the 13 keV range to measure ion Doppler broadening in inertial confinement plasmas. The spectrometer is designed to use thin, curved, mica crystals to achieve a resolving power of E/ΔE>2000. A number of natural mica crystals were screened for flatness and X-ray diffraction width to find samples of sufficient perfection for use in the instrument. Procedures to select and mount high quality mica samples are discussed. A diode-type X-ray source coupled to a dual goniometer arrangement was used to measure the crystal reflectivity curve. A procedure was developed for evaluating the goniometer performance using a set of diffraction grade Si crystals. This goniometer system was invaluable for identifying the best original crystals for further use and developing the techniques to select satisfactory curved crystals for the spectrometer.


1990 ◽  
Vol 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bentley ◽  
P.S. Sklad

ABSTRACTDomain boundaries have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy in single crystal [0001] α-Al2O3 epitactically regrown after being amorphized by stoichiometric ion implantation. The domains are facetted on {1120} and have dislocation-like features at facet intersections. End-of-range dislocation loops on (0001) appear to be the nucleation site for the domains. Diffraction contrast, high resolution imaging, and convergent beam electron diffraction techniques showed that two types of domains are present which involve cation stacking sequences which are out of phase with the matrix as a result of translation along and/or inversion of [0001]. The non-inverted regions can be described as anti-phase domains, whereas those with [0001] inverted also have a basal twin character.


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