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Observation of diffraction contrast in scanning helium microscopy.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Bergin, M 
Lambrick, SM 
Sleath, H 
Ward, DJ 
Ellis, J 

Abstract

Scanning helium microscopy is an emerging form of microscopy using thermal energy neutral helium atoms as the probe particle. The very low energy combined with lack of charge gives the technique great potential for studying delicate systems, and the possibility of several new forms of contrast. To date, neutral helium images have been dominated by topographic contrast, relating to the height and angle of the surface. Here we present data showing contrast resulting from specular reflection and diffraction of helium atoms from an atomic lattice of lithium fluoride. The signature for diffraction is evident by varying the scattering angle and observing sharp features in the scattered distribution. The data indicates the viability of the approach for imaging with diffraction contrast and suggests application to a wide variety of other locally crystalline materials.

Description

Keywords

51 Physical Sciences, 34 Chemical Sciences, 3406 Physical Chemistry

Journal Title

Sci Rep

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2045-2322
2045-2322

Volume Title

10

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/R008272/1)
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