EDIFF: a program for automated unit-cell determination and indexing of electron diffraction data

Abstract

EDIFFis a new user-friendly software suite for unit-cell determination of three-dimensional nanocrystals from randomly oriented electron diffraction patterns with unknown independent orientations. It can also be used for three-dimensional cell reconstruction from diffraction tilt series. In neither case is exact knowledge of the angular relationship between the patterns required. The unit cell can be validated and the crystal system assigned.EDIFFcan index the reflections in electron diffraction patterns. Thus,EDIFFcan be employed as a first step in reconstructing the three-dimensional atomic structure of organic and inorganic molecules and of proteins from diffraction data. An example illustrates the viability of theEDIFFapproach.