Exploring physics of electron microscopy

探索电子显微镜的物理原理

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-02539
• 负责人: Malac, Marek
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742039
• 关键词: Exploring; physics; electron; microscopy

We develop the physics of electron-solid interactions underlying electron microscopy (EM). We explore the ultimate limits of practical EM arising from physics and sample radiation damage by the electron beam itself. Applications of the proposed work range from biology to physics, chemistry and materials science. The proposed funding will provide a training opportunity within the EM research program at NRC-NANO, thus leveraging ~20M$ investment at NANO. Graduates capable of developing EM, rather than merely using existing tools, are highly sought after. The funding supports student training in three areas: 1) Quantitative Phase Plate imaging (PPI), refers to the manipulation of the electron wave to increase image contrast and to image radiation-sensitive samples including cells, and virus and protein particles. PPI gained prominence following our invention of the hole-free phase plate. At present, a majority of new cryo transmission electron microscopes are equipped with our phase plate. We have demonstrated quantitative PPI for ultra thin samples and for samples containing only discrete spatial frequencies. We have shown that PPs can simultaneously image sample magnetization and microstructure in focus thus qualitatively improving image interpretation, and perform 3D reconstruction by electron tomography of computer chips and molecular devices. The students will learn quantitative PPI for arbitrary samples, explore new hardware designs for quantitative PPI, and develop new PPI applications. 2) Momentum resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (qEELS) has been a strength of our laboratory, thanks to our in-house customized transmission electron microscope. We demonstrated that qEELS can be linked to the photonic density of states, and were able to study hyperbolic metamaterials and extreme ultraviolet light sources. We aim to expand research on the optical properties of nanostructured materials thus providing insights needed for the design of future plasmonic devices for telecommunications and information processing. 3) Public-license electron microscopy platform referred to as NanoMi. NanoMi hardware and software will broaden access to EM starting at the college level, thus attracting students of all backgrounds to materials and biological sciences. NanoMi-trained students acquire a deep knowledge of the principles of EM. We are training EM experts who can lead and train EM users. Ultimately, NanoMi will provide a test bench and training platform for future generations of scientists. International interactions with industry and academia contributed to our previous graduate's success. NSERC funding will contribute to the proliferation of a public-license EM that could have enormous impact by enabling EM access, training future experts and stimulating the development of components that can be utilized across numerous fields of science and industry.

我们发展电子显微镜（EM）下的电子-固体相互作用的物理学。我们探讨了实际电磁产生的物理和样品辐射损伤的电子束本身的极限。拟议工作的应用范围从生物学到物理学，化学和材料科学。拟议的资金将在NRC-NANO的EM研究计划中提供培训机会，从而利用NANO的约2000万美元投资。能够开发EM，而不仅仅是使用现有工具的毕业生非常抢手。该基金支持三个领域的学生培训：1）定量相位板成像（PPI），指的是操纵电子波以增加图像对比度，并对辐射敏感的样品（包括细胞，病毒和蛋白质颗粒）进行成像。在我们发明了无孔相位板之后，PPI获得了突出地位。目前，大多数新型低温透射电子显微镜都配备了我们的位相板。我们已经证明了定量PPI超薄样品和仅包含离散空间频率的样品。我们已经表明，PP可以同时成像样品的磁化和微结构的焦点，从而定性地提高图像的解释，并进行计算机芯片和分子器件的电子断层扫描的三维重建。学生将学习任意样本的定量PPI，探索定量PPI的新硬件设计，并开发新的PPI应用程序。2)动量分辨电子能量损失谱（qEELS）一直是我们实验室的强项，这要归功于我们内部定制的透射电子显微镜。我们证明了qEELS可以与光子态密度联系起来，并且能够研究双曲超材料和极紫外光源。我们的目标是扩大对纳米结构材料的光学性质的研究，从而为电信和信息处理的未来等离子体器件的设计提供所需的见解。3)公共许可的电子显微镜平台，简称NanoMi。NanoMi硬件和软件将扩大从大学开始的EM访问，从而吸引各种背景的学生学习材料和生物科学。NanoMi培训的学生获得了EM原理的深刻知识。我们正在培训EM专家，他们可以领导和培训EM用户。最终，NanoMi将为未来的科学家提供测试平台和培训平台。 与工业界和学术界的国际互动有助于我们以前的毕业生的成功。NSERC的资金将有助于公共许可EM的扩散，通过实现EM访问，培训未来的专家和刺激可用于众多科学和工业领域的组件的开发，可能产生巨大的影响。