Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction is now almost routinely used in the determination of the point- and space-groups of crystalline samples. In addition to its small-probe capability, CBED is also postulated to be more sensitive than X-ray diffraction in determining crystal symmetries. Multiple diffraction is phase-sensitive, so that the distinction between centro- and non-centro-symmetric space groups should be trivial in CBED: in addition, the stronger scattering of electrons may give a general increase in sensitivity to small atomic displacements. However, the sensitivity of CBED symmetry to the crystal point group has rarely been quantified, and CBED is also subject to symmetry-breaking due to local strains and inhomogeneities. The purpose of this paper is to classify the various types of symmetry-breaking, present calculations of the sensitivity, and illustrate symmetry-breaking by surface strains.CBED symmetry determinations usually proceed by determining the diffraction group along various zone axes, and hence finding the point group. The diffraction group can be found using either the intensity distribution in the discs
Corrections to the knife-edge based reconstruction scheme of tightly focused light beams
