Laser-based aberration corrector

TL;DR

This paper proposes using spatially tailored intense laser pulses as a novel, versatile method to correct aberrations in electron microscopes, potentially improving resolution and enabling new electron optics applications.

Contribution

It introduces a laser-based aberration correction method using electron-photon interactions, offering an alternative to traditional multipolar electron lenses.

Findings

Simulations show effective compensation of spherical and chromatic aberrations.

Significant improvement in simulated electron probe sizes.

Potential for integration into ultrafast electron microscopy setups.

Abstract

Aberration correctors are essential elements for achieving atomic resolution in state-of-the-art electron microscopes. Conventional correctors are based on a series of multipolar electron lenses, but more versatile alternatives are intensively sought. Here we suggest spatially tailored intense laser pulses as one such alternative. Our simulations demonstrate that the free-space electron-photon interaction can be used to compensate for spherical and chromatic aberrations of subsequent electron lenses. We show a significant improvement in the simulated electron probe sizes and discuss the prospects of utilizing the tailored laser fields as a platform for novel electron optics in ultrafast electron microscope setups.