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Electron Microscopy of Probability Currents at Atomic Resolution

A. Lubk, A. Béché, and J. Verbeeck
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 176101 – Published 20 October 2015
Physics logo See Synopsis: A TEM That Images Quantum Currents  

Abstract

Atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy records the spatially resolved scattered electron density to infer positions, density, and species of atoms. These data are indispensable for studying the relation between structure and properties in solids. Here, we show how this signal can be augmented by the lateral probability current of the scattered electrons in the object plane at similar resolutions and fields of view. The currents are reconstructed from a series of three atomic resolution TEM images recorded under a slight difference of perpendicular line foci. The technique does not rely on the coherence of the electron beam and can be used to reveal electric, magnetic, and strain fields with incoherent electron beams as well as correlations in inelastic transitions, such as electron magnetic chiral dichroism.

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  • Received 10 July 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.176101

© 2015 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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A TEM That Images Quantum Currents  

Published 20 October 2015

A commercial electron microscope is reconfigured to image crystalline strain and variations in electric and magnetic fields within a material.

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Authors & Affiliations

A. Lubk1, A. Béché2, and J. Verbeeck2

  • 1Triebenberg Laboratory, Institute of Structure Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
  • 2EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 17 — 23 October 2015

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