Live 3D imaging with sub-nanometer resolution

Transmission electron microscopy has had a tremendous impact on various scientific disciplines, including biology and materials science, as it allows to study various materials in great detail. Here, fast electrons shine through a thin sample imaging it at a very high resolution. The fact that the images obtained in this way only represent a projection of 3D objects is a major drawback of this technique. Therefore, tomography was developed to overcome this problem. Here, many images from different projections are collected in complicated experiments and combined with algorithms to form a 3D model. Tomography is time consuming and not suitable for direct live imaging of materials. Therefore, the goal of this project is to tilt the electron beam automatically very fast, and to transform the obtained images directly into a stereo image. The 3D-image can be directly observed by the spectator using suitable glasses, just like in a 3D cinema. Transmission electron microscopes use specialized sample holders, where miniaturized samples can be deformed, to directly observe the underlying damage processes in materials; for example, the movement of dislocations (a form of defect) in metals. The goal is to perform these experiments in 3D. This would allow to better understand the deformation properties of more complex materials. Despite great advances in data analysis, we still interact with the transmission electron microscope through watching images. 3D vision could be just a first step. The concept of augmented reality, in which, for example, data analysis is directly overlaid live with the image, would enable more efficient investigation of complex nanomaterials, accelerating the discovery of new materials.