Image Restoration and Characteristics of Slow_Scan CCD Camera and Imaging Plates

Abstract

The performance of slow scan CCD (SSC) camera [1,2] and imaging plate (IP) [3] for digital recording is limited by resolution and noise. The SSC camera and IP are two digital detectors currently available for transmission electron microscope (TEM). Imaging plates are re-usable flexible sheets, which are used in the standard cassettes. They are readout digitally with a 25 μm pixel size. Both detectors are linear and have large dynamic range. The SSC is a fixed accessory of TEM, images can be acquired, processed and viewed immediately by the microscope operator. The IP fits into a regular film cassette and is used like film except for the processing method. The image plate records electron image by storing electron energy in the potential well of defect states in a photo-stimulable phosphor. The stored image is read out by scanning a laser probe and detecting the stimulated luminescence in a reader. The SSC uses scintillator to convert electrons to photons and detects photons with CCD through optical couplings. The IP has 3000X3760 pixels. The available SSC for electron microscopy ranges from 512×512 to 2048×2048 pixels.