Holography with low-energy electrons

Abstract

We have employed an ultrasharp tip, prepared by field-ion techniques, as a coherent point source of low-energy electrons. The source, which constitutes the origin of a spherical electron wave, is positioned close to small carbon fibers, at which some of the electrons are elastically scattered. At macroscopic distances a hologram is observed, which arises from the interference of the scattered electrons with the reference wave. The high magnification of the interference pattern is brought about purely by geometric projection. No electron lenses are emloyed and, thus, the high-resolution microscopic information gained by this novel technique is not affected by aberrations.