Electron techniques

Methods that use electron beams or electron interactions to image, analyze, or modify materials. They include microscopy, spectroscopy, diffraction, and beam processing.

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Electron: A negatively charged subatomic particle found in atoms and responsible for many electrical and chemical properties. Electron beams are the shared probes or tools behind these techniques.
Transmission electron microscopy: An imaging technique that forms images from electrons transmitted through a thin specimen. It reveals internal structure at fine spatial scales using transmitted electrons.
Elastic scattering: A scattering event in which a particle changes direction with negligible energy change. Elastic electron scattering contributes strongly to diffraction and image contrast.
X-ray techniques: Methods that use X-rays to image, analyze, or probe matter. X-rays often probe thicker samples or larger volumes than electron beams.
Electron–matter interaction: The scattering, energy loss, emission, or other response that occurs when electrons encounter matter. These interactions generate the signals used to image and characterize samples.
Scanning electron microscopy: An imaging technique that scans a focused electron beam across a specimen and detects resulting signals. It maps surface morphology and composition through raster-scanned beam signals.
Inelastic scattering: A scattering event in which a particle transfers energy to its surroundings. Energy transfer creates spectroscopy signals and can also damage specimens.
Optical microscopy: Microscopy that forms images using visible, ultraviolet, or infrared light. Light microscopy needs less demanding sample environments but has lower diffraction-limited resolution.
Electron optics: The control and focusing of electron beams using electric and magnetic fields. Lenses and beam controls shape the probe in many electron instruments.
Electron energy-loss spectroscopy: A spectroscopy method that measures energy lost by electrons transmitted through a specimen. Energy-loss features reveal composition, bonding, and electronic structure.