AstroECP: towards more practical Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Qaiser, M. Haroon, Berners, Lukas, Scales, Robin J., Zhang, Tianbi, Heller, Martin, Dluhos, Jiri, Korte-Kerzel, Sandra, Britton, T. Ben
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Qaiser, M. Haroon
Berners, Lukas
Scales, Robin J.
Zhang, Tianbi
Heller, Martin
Dluhos, Jiri
Korte-Kerzel, Sandra
Britton, T. Ben
author_facet Qaiser, M. Haroon
Berners, Lukas
Scales, Robin J.
Zhang, Tianbi
Heller, Martin
Dluhos, Jiri
Korte-Kerzel, Sandra
Britton, T. Ben
contents Electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) is a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based technique that enables bulk-sample characterization of crystallographic defects (e.g. dislocations, stacking faults, low angle boundaries). Despite its potential, ECCI remains underused for quantitative defect analysis as compared to transmission electron microscope (TEM) based methods. Here, we overcome barriers that limit the use of ECCI including optimizing signal-to-noise contrast, precise determination of the incident beam vector with calibrated and easy to use simulations and experimental selected area electron channeling patterns (SA-ECP). We introduce a systematic ECCI workflow, alongside a new open-source software tool (AstroECP), that includes calibration of stage tilting, SA-ECP field of view, and the energy that forms the ECP/ECCI contrast using dynamical simulations. The functionality of this workflow is demonstrated with case studies that include threading dislocations in GaAs and the cross validation of precession based ECCI-contrast, which is otherwise known as Electron Channeling Orientation Determination (eCHORD). To assist the reader, we also provide best practice guidelines for ECCI implementation to promote high-resolution defect imaging in the SEM.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_00354
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle AstroECP: towards more practical Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging
Qaiser, M. Haroon
Berners, Lukas
Scales, Robin J.
Zhang, Tianbi
Heller, Martin
Dluhos, Jiri
Korte-Kerzel, Sandra
Britton, T. Ben
Materials Science
Instrumentation and Detectors
Electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) is a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based technique that enables bulk-sample characterization of crystallographic defects (e.g. dislocations, stacking faults, low angle boundaries). Despite its potential, ECCI remains underused for quantitative defect analysis as compared to transmission electron microscope (TEM) based methods. Here, we overcome barriers that limit the use of ECCI including optimizing signal-to-noise contrast, precise determination of the incident beam vector with calibrated and easy to use simulations and experimental selected area electron channeling patterns (SA-ECP). We introduce a systematic ECCI workflow, alongside a new open-source software tool (AstroECP), that includes calibration of stage tilting, SA-ECP field of view, and the energy that forms the ECP/ECCI contrast using dynamical simulations. The functionality of this workflow is demonstrated with case studies that include threading dislocations in GaAs and the cross validation of precession based ECCI-contrast, which is otherwise known as Electron Channeling Orientation Determination (eCHORD). To assist the reader, we also provide best practice guidelines for ECCI implementation to promote high-resolution defect imaging in the SEM.
title AstroECP: towards more practical Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging
topic Materials Science
Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.00354