PhaseT3M: 3D Imaging at 1.6 Å Resolution via Electron Cryo-Tomography with Nonlinear Phase Retrieval

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lee, Juhyeok, Song, Samuel W., Cho, Min Gee, Varnavides, Georgios, Ribet, Stephanie M., Ophus, Colin, Scott, Mary C., Whittaker, Michael L.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866914304617349120
author Lee, Juhyeok
Song, Samuel W.
Cho, Min Gee
Varnavides, Georgios
Ribet, Stephanie M.
Ophus, Colin
Scott, Mary C.
Whittaker, Michael L.
author_facet Lee, Juhyeok
Song, Samuel W.
Cho, Min Gee
Varnavides, Georgios
Ribet, Stephanie M.
Ophus, Colin
Scott, Mary C.
Whittaker, Michael L.
contents Electron cryo-tomography (cryo-ET) enables 3D imaging of complex, radiation-sensitive structures with molecular detail. However, image contrast from the interference of scattered electrons is nonlinear with atomic density and multiple scattering further complicates interpretation. These effects degrade resolution, particularly in conventional reconstruction algorithms, which assume linearity. Particle averaging can reduce such issues but is unsuitable for heterogeneous or dynamic samples ubiquitous in biology, chemistry, and materials sciences. Here, we develop a phase retrieval-based cryo-ET method, PhaseT3M. We experimentally demonstrate its application to a ~7 nm Co3O4 nanoparticle on ~30 nm carbon substrate, achieving a maximum resolution of 1.6 Å, surpassing conventional limits using standard cryo-TEM equipment. PhaseT3M uses a multislice model for multiple scattering and Bayesian optimization for alignment and computational aberration correction, with a positivity constraint to recover 'missing wedge' information. Applied directly to biological particles, it enhances resolution and reduces artifacts, establishing a new standard for routine 3D imaging of complex, radiation-sensitive materials.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_16332
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle PhaseT3M: 3D Imaging at 1.6 Å Resolution via Electron Cryo-Tomography with Nonlinear Phase Retrieval
Lee, Juhyeok
Song, Samuel W.
Cho, Min Gee
Varnavides, Georgios
Ribet, Stephanie M.
Ophus, Colin
Scott, Mary C.
Whittaker, Michael L.
Materials Science
Electron cryo-tomography (cryo-ET) enables 3D imaging of complex, radiation-sensitive structures with molecular detail. However, image contrast from the interference of scattered electrons is nonlinear with atomic density and multiple scattering further complicates interpretation. These effects degrade resolution, particularly in conventional reconstruction algorithms, which assume linearity. Particle averaging can reduce such issues but is unsuitable for heterogeneous or dynamic samples ubiquitous in biology, chemistry, and materials sciences. Here, we develop a phase retrieval-based cryo-ET method, PhaseT3M. We experimentally demonstrate its application to a ~7 nm Co3O4 nanoparticle on ~30 nm carbon substrate, achieving a maximum resolution of 1.6 Å, surpassing conventional limits using standard cryo-TEM equipment. PhaseT3M uses a multislice model for multiple scattering and Bayesian optimization for alignment and computational aberration correction, with a positivity constraint to recover 'missing wedge' information. Applied directly to biological particles, it enhances resolution and reduces artifacts, establishing a new standard for routine 3D imaging of complex, radiation-sensitive materials.
title PhaseT3M: 3D Imaging at 1.6 Å Resolution via Electron Cryo-Tomography with Nonlinear Phase Retrieval
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.16332