Structured Electron Beam Illumination: A New Control Over the Electron Probe Weird Probes and New Experiments

Since the introduction of electron vortex beams it has become increasingly clear the possibility to have an unprecedented control over the electron beams and to produce arbitrary electron beams. Electron microscopy is basically rediscovering most of the progresses of optics. In this field, researchers have been using holograms based on liquid crystal technology to produce any kind of light beam shape. These beams are, for example, at the basis of some of the most interesting fundamental experiments of quantum mechanics. It is well known that the equations for electron and photons, in paraxial approximation, are formally the same; however, what really paved the road to holographic electron optics has been the possibility to nanofabricate patterns on SiN membranes to induce a controlled phase plate.