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A New and Unexpected Spatial Relationship Between Interaction Volume and Diffraction Pattern in Electron Microscopy
Etienne Brodu1, Emmanuel Bouzy1
11Laboratoire d'Etude des Microstructures et de Mécanique des Matériaux (LEM3),Université de Lorraine,UMR CNRS 7239,57045 Metz,France.
Summary
Lateral subsections of electron microscopy interaction volumes create Kikuchi diffraction pattern subsections. This reveals sample microstructure directly in Kikuchi patterns, offering new insights for materials science.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is crucial for materials characterization.
- Kikuchi patterns provide crystallographic information but typically represent bulk sample properties.
- Direct visualization of microstructure within Kikuchi patterns has been a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lateral ordering of the electron beam interaction volume in TEM.
- To demonstrate that lateral subsections of this volume generate corresponding subsections of the Kikuchi diffraction pattern.
- To establish a method for directly visualizing sample microstructure within Kikuchi patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an on-axis transmission Kikuchi diffraction setup in a scanning electron microscope.
- Performed Monte Carlo simulations to model electron scattering.
- Conducted large-angle convergent-beam electron diffraction experiments.
- Analyzed Kikuchi patterns across a fabricated silicon interface.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated lateral ordering within the electron beam interaction volume.
- Showed that lateral subsections of the interaction volume produce Kikuchi pattern subsections.
- Observed direct visualization of polycrystalline Ti-10Al-25Nb microstructure in Kikuchi patterns.
- Achieved good qualitative agreement between experiments and simulations.
Conclusions:
- The lateral ordering of the interaction volume allows for direct microstructural imaging within Kikuchi patterns.
- The phenomenon originates from differential elastic and quasi-elastic cross-sections.
- Discrepancies between simulation and experiment may stem from thermal diffuse scattering effects.
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