Accelerator-based Single-shot Ultrafast Transmission Electron Microscope with Picosecond Temporal Resolution and Nanometer Spatial Resolution

TL;DR

This paper explores the feasibility of an accelerator-based ultrafast transmission electron microscope capable of capturing full-field images in a single shot with picosecond temporal and nanometer spatial resolution, opening new research possibilities.

Contribution

It provides a feasibility study using simulations to demonstrate the potential of u-TEMs with combined ultrafast temporal and nanoscale spatial resolution.

Findings

Simulations confirm feasibility with realistic electron beam parameters.

u-TEMs can achieve a resolution product beyond 10^{-19} m*s.

Potential to probe matter at ultrafast and ultrasmall scales.

Abstract

We present feasibility study of an accelerator-based ultrafast transmission electron microscope (u-TEM) capable of producing a full field image in a single-shot with simultaneous picosecond temporal resolution and nanometer spatial resolution. We study key physics related to performance of u-TEMs, and discuss major challenges as well as possible solutions for practical realization of u-TEMs. The feasibility of u-TEMs is confirmed through simulations using realistic electron beam parameters. We anticipate that u-TEMs with a product of temporal and spatial resolution beyond $10^{-19}~$m*s will open up new opportunities in probing matter at ultrafast temporal and ultrasmall spatial scales.