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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography
Published on: March 12, 2017
Peculiarities of imaging one- and two-dimensional structures using an electron microscope in the mirror operation
S A Nepijko1, N N Sedov, G Schönhense
1Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55099 Mainz, Germany. nepijko@mail.uni-mainz.de
Abstract:
Measurements performed in an electron microscope with the mirror operation mode are most sensitive to local electric fields and geometrical roughness of any kind of the object being studied. The object with a geometrical relief is equivalent to a smooth surface with an effective distribution of microfields. Electrons forming the image interact with the local microfields for an extended time: during approach to the object, deceleration and acceleration away from the object. As a result, the electron trajectories can be strongly distorted, and the contrast changes essentially, leading to image deformation of details of the object under investigation and to lowering of the resolution. These effects are theoretically described and are illustrated by experiments. An analysis of these effects enables the real size and the shape of the object involved to be reconstructed.
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