Electron microdiffraction patterns, obtained when a small electron probe with diameter of 10-15 Å is directed to run parallel to and outside a flat crystal surface, are sensitive to the surface nature of the crystals. Dynamical diffraction calculations have shown that most of the experimental observations for a flat (100) face of a MgO crystal, such as the streaking of the central spot in the surface normal direction and (100)-type forbidden reflections etc., could be explained satisfactorily by assuming a modified image potential field outside the crystal surface. However the origin of this extended surface potential remains uncertain. A theoretical analysis by Howie et al suggests that the surface image potential should have a form different from above-mentioned image potential and also be smaller by several orders of magnitude. Nevertheless the surface potential distribution may in practice be modified in various ways, such as by the adsorption of a monolayer of gas molecules.