Reconstruction of composite in-line electron holograms using a small emission cone

Abstract

We report a new method that gives atomic resolution in the reconstruction of simulated holograms in theoretical low energy electron point source (LEEPS) microscopy, and that uses a screen size that is commensurate with screen sizes used in experimental LEEPS. The method exploits the spherical symmetry in the electron waves emerging from the source. We compare holograms obtained by rotating the screen about an axis passing through the point source as opposed to rotating the atomic cluster in the opposite sense about the same axis. We show that, by generating and combining simulated holograms obtained by rotating the cluster, with the screen held fixed, a composite hologram, comprised of the individual holograms, captures enough information that atomic resolution in the reconstructions is obtained. A key feature is to choose the rotations to optimize the collective interference pattern on the composite hologram. This results in sharper resolution while using a considerably smaller screen size; results are reported for a screen size about ten times smaller than screen sizes typically used in theoretical LEEPS. The method used gives commensurate or better resolution on comparison to results obtained using the larger screen size. Possible implications for experimental LEEPS are briefly discussed.