Electron energy-loss studies using a position-sensitive multidetector electron spectrometer: the spectrum of hydrogen chloride

1984 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 2563-2575 ◽  
Author(s):  
T A York ◽  
J Comer
Author(s):  
Ondrej L. Krivanek

Parallel-detection electron energy loss spectrometers improve the detection efficiency by several hundred times compared to the traditional serial-detection spectrometers, but they have their own set of difficulties, such as the limited dynamic range of solid state detectors, the possibility of stray reflections of the intense zero loss beam giving rise to spurious background, and channel-to-channel gain variation. Fortunately, none of these difficulties is turning out to be insoluble. Here we report on improvements of the Gatan 666 parallel detection electron spectrometer in the areas of increasing the dynamic range of the detector, and in eliminating stray reflections.The increase in the dynamic range of the detector was needed especially for low energy losses (high spectral intensities), which usually saturated the detector even at the minimum acquisition time of 12 msecs. Accordingly, we have developed an electron attenuator which uses a magnetic dipole to sweep the spectrum across the detector perpendicular to the dispersion direction (Fig. 1).


Author(s):  
N.J. Zaluzec ◽  
M. G. Strauss

Conventional parallel detectors for Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) have been mainly based upon systems using linear photodiode arrays in a conjugate image plane of an electron spectrometer. We have developed a unique two dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) camera system which can be used as a detector for EEL spectroscopy and imaging, utilizing high sensitivity, high resolution CCD's, which are typically used in medial or astronomic imaging.The present detector system is based upon a Tektronics TK512M 512 x 512 pixel CCD array, (figure 1) which is optically coupled to a YAG:Ce single crystal scintillator. This CCD imaging system views an electron energy loss spectrum which is magnified by a quadrupole doublet lens attached to a Gatan 607 electron spectrometer on a Philips EM420 TEM as is illustrated in figure 2. The CCD controller, detector head electronics and electron optics were developed at Argonne specifically for high speed data acquisition and allow the recording of complete spectra in as short a time as 10 μsec or approximately 103 times faster than the typical 1024 pixel photodiode arrays’ thus allowing the potential for time resolved spectroscopy.


Author(s):  
P. Trebbia ◽  
P. Ballongue ◽  
C. Colliex

An effective use of electron energy loss spectroscopy for chemical characterization of selected areas in the electron microscope can only be achieved with the development of quantitative measurements capabilities.The experimental assembly, which is sketched in Fig.l, has therefore been carried out. It comprises four main elements.The analytical transmission electron microscope is a conventional microscope fitted with a Castaing and Henry dispersive unit (magnetic prism and electrostatic mirror). Recent modifications include the improvement of the vacuum in the specimen chamber (below 10-6 torr) and the adaptation of a new electrostatic mirror.The detection system, similar to the one described by Hermann et al (1), is located in a separate chamber below the fluorescent screen which visualizes the energy loss spectrum. Variable apertures select the electrons, which have lost an energy AE within an energy window smaller than 1 eV, in front of a surface barrier solid state detector RTC BPY 52 100 S.Q. The saw tooth signal delivered by a charge sensitive preamplifier (decay time of 5.10-5 S) is amplified, shaped into a gaussian profile through an active filter and counted by a single channel analyser.


Author(s):  
C. Colliex ◽  
P. Trebbia

The physical foundations for the use of electron energy loss spectroscopy towards analytical purposes, seem now rather well established and have been extensively discussed through recent publications. In this brief review we intend only to mention most recent developments in this field, which became available to our knowledge. We derive also some lines of discussion to define more clearly the limits of this analytical technique in materials science problems.The spectral information carried in both low ( 0<ΔE<100eV ) and high ( >100eV ) energy regions of the loss spectrum, is capable to provide quantitative results. Spectrometers have therefore been designed to work with all kinds of electron microscopes and to cover large energy ranges for the detection of inelastically scattered electrons (for instance the L-edge of molybdenum at 2500eV has been measured by van Zuylen with primary electrons of 80 kV). It is rather easy to fix a post-specimen magnetic optics on a STEM, but Crewe has recently underlined that great care should be devoted to optimize the collecting power and the energy resolution of the whole system.


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