Abstract
The introduction of an experimental black level may introduce unintended artifactual details into high-resolution annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM) lattice images. This article presents the multislice simulation results of such possible situations. Three simulated scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) probes of sizes 0.8, 1.2 and 2.0Å are scanned on the surface of a 〈1̄10〉 oriented Si/Ge crystal. The simulation results suggest that high-frequency artifact peaks will appear in the power spectra when an artificial black level clips the lowest (background) signal. The lowest signal in an ADF-STEM image decreases as the incident probe shrinks in size. Therefore, care must be taken when interpreting the resolution limit of the microscope from images taken with nonzero black level setting, especially in case of sub-Å microscope. The simulation result is compared with an experimental image and they agree with each other. The analysis suggests that aberration corrected STEM provide sensitive low level detail.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 275-284 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Ultramicroscopy |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Instrumentation
Keywords
- Annular dark field (ADF)
- Artifact
- Black level
- Power spectrum
- Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)
- Sub-Å probe