Publication
Title
Spiral phase plate contrast in optical and electron microscopy
Author
Abstract
The use of phase plates in the back focal plane of a microscope is a well-established technique in optical microscopy to increase the contrast of weakly interacting samples and is gaining interest in electron microscopy as well. In this paper we study the spiral phase plate (SPP), also called helical, vortex, or two-dimensional Hilbert phase plate, which adds an angularly dependent phase of the form eiφk to the exit wave in Fourier space. In the limit of large collection angles, we analytically calculate that the average of a pair of = ±1 SPP filtered images is directly proportional to the gradient squared of the exit wave, explaining the edge contrast previously seen in optical SPP work. We discuss the difference between a clockwise-anticlockwise pair of SPP filtered images and derive conditions under which the modulus of the waves gradient can be seen directly from one SPP filtered image. This work provides the theoretical background to interpret images obtained with a SPP, thereby opening new perspectives for new experiments to study, for example, magnetic materials in an electron microscope.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Physical review A / American Physical Society. - New York, N.Y., 2016, currens
Publication
New York, N.Y. : American Physical Society , 2016
ISSN
2469-9934
DOI
10.1103/PHYSREVA.94.023838
Volume/pages
94 :2 (2016) , p. 1-7
Article Reference
023838
ISI
000381882800011
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
ESTEEM 2 - Enabling science and technology through European electron microscopy.
Exploring electron vortex beams (VORTEX).
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 13.02.2017
Last edited 09.10.2023
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