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Correcting for crystal tilt in HRTEM images of minerals: the case of orthopyroxene

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Abstract

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is a powerful technique for crystal structure imaging and real structure analysis. It is theoretically possible to resolve inter-atomic distances with modern high resolution microscopes. In practice, however, the effects of sample and lens parameters such as crystal tilt and phase contrast transfer function (CTF) distort the images, reduce the resolution offered, and make image interpretation difficult. We have analyzed to what extent it is possible to reconstruct interpretable images of a tilted mineral by image processing.

HRTEM images of orthopyroxene were simulated for a series of crystal tilts and thicknesses under Scherzer defocus condition using the parameters of a 400 kV microscope. The tilted images were reconstructed by crystallographic image processing. After correcting for crystal tilt, the images were as good as electron density maps calculated from X-ray diffraction structure factors.

The effects of crystal tilt could easily be removed by image processing, if specimen thickness and the tilt angle are less than 10 nm and 2.5°, respectively. For larger crystal thicknesses (>20 nm) the effect of tilting could be removed only for small tilt angles (<1°). For a given crystal thickness, a slight tilt often resulted in an improved reconstructed image.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    Xiaodong Zou & Sven Hovmöller

  2. Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 13, S-232 62, Lund, Sweden

    Embaie A. Ferrow

Authors
  1. Xiaodong Zou
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  2. Embaie A. Ferrow
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  3. Sven Hovmöller
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Correspondence to Xiaodong Zou.

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Zou, X., Ferrow, E.A. & Hovmöller, S. Correcting for crystal tilt in HRTEM images of minerals: the case of orthopyroxene. Phys Chem Minerals 22, 517–523 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209378

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209378

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