scanning electron microscope
Beam-based surface viewer
A scanning electron microscope uses a focused beam of electrons rather than light to produce highly magnified images of surfaces.
The beam scans across the specimen, and the electrons that bounce back or are emitted create detailed three-dimensional images of surface texture and structure.
Unlike optical microscopes, SEMs can magnify objects hundreds of thousands of times: The scanning electron microscope revealed the intricate structure of the pollen grain.
Enclosure with removed atmosphere
- detectorDevice that senses
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
- depth of fieldZone of acceptable sharpness
working distance · contrast · topography · micrograph · nanoscale
Electrode current exits through
- filamentVery thin thread
- anodeOxidation electrode
- objective lensLight-gathering optical element
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
column · vacuum pump · Faraday cage · display monitor · control console
Study of engineered substances
- failure analysisStudy of why something broke
- metallurgyScience of extracting metals
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
mineralogy · quality control · microstructure · fiber analysis
Ultrafine material fragments
- carbon nanotubesRolled hexagonal lattice structures
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanofibersUltrathin synthetic threads
- quantum dotsNanoscale semiconductors with size-dependent properties
nanomaterials · nanofabrication · self-assembly · nanostructures · thin films · nanowires
vacuum chamber
Enclosure with removed atmosphere
- detectorDevice that senses
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
depth of field · working distance · contrast · topography · micrograph · nanoscale
cathode
Electrode current exits through
- filamentVery thin thread
- anodeOxidation electrode
- objective lensLight-gathering optical element
aperture · column · vacuum pump · Faraday cage · display monitor · control console
materials science
Study of engineered substances
- failure analysisStudy of why something broke
- metallurgyScience of extracting metals
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
geology · mineralogy · quality control · microstructure · fiber analysis
nanoparticles
Ultrafine material fragments
- carbon nanotubesRolled hexagonal lattice structures
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanofibersUltrathin synthetic threads
quantum dots · nanomaterials · nanofabrication · self-assembly · nanostructures · thin films · nanowires
- Lab Instrumentsspectrometer, spectrophotometer, chromatograph, mass spectrometer, centrifuge
- electron microscopySEM, STEM, vacuum chamber, detector, magnification
- Electron Devicescathode ray tube, magnetron
- nanoscience toolsSTM, SEM, nanoprobe, cantilever, CVD
scanning electron microscopelight microscope
Magnifier using lenses and illumination
optical microscope · compound microscope · stereomicroscope · dissecting microscope
scanning electron microscopenaked eye
Vision without optical instruments
magnifying glass · hand lens · loupe · gross examination · simple microscope
scanning, scanned, scanner, scanners, electron, electrons, electronic, electronics, electronically