Holography electron microscope

According to quantum theory, electrons can have both wave and particle characteristics. Thus, passing electrons through a sample gives rise to interference fringes that can be used to observe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields in the sample. The use of a high-brightness beam of field-emission electrons made it possible for the first time to observe thousands of interference fringes, and made the holography electron microscope a practical instrument in 1978.

In 1989, the 350-kV holography electron microscope was developed with a magnetic gun lens installed to reduce spherical aberrations of the electron gun and the acceleration tube by controlling electron trajectories, aiming at high-brightness (i.e. small probe size and large probe current).

In 2018, the world’s highest brightness has been recorded – using the Atomic-Resolution Holography Electron Microscope.