Project description
Compression rather than filtering eliminates electron beam losses
The spatial and spectral resolution of advanced high-resolution electron microscopes are diminished by the energy spread of the electron beam, which causes chromatic aberrations. ‘Monochromators’ using mechanical slits as a band-pass filter are often used to correct this, but they result in electron beam losses. The ERC-funded Loss-less Monochroma project intends to develop a simplified monochromator based on a single crystal inside the microscope column. Infrared laser pulses will generate THz radiation in the crystal that will interact with the electron beam, compressing rather than filtering the electron energy and thus eliminating beam losses. The pioneering crystal technology will be retrofit-compatible in conventional low-cost electron microscopes to improve their performance.
Objective
Lossless Electron Beam Monochromator for Enhanced Resolution in Electron Microscopy
The performance of advanced high-resolution electron-microscopes (EM) is severely limited by the energy spread of the electron beam, which limits both spatial and spectral resolutions by causing chromatic aberrations. To mitigate this limitation, monochromators are used. Common monochromators have mechanical slits as a narrow band-pass filter, inherently introducing high loss to the electron beam. They are very complex and thus highly expensive. Here we propose to develop a novel electron monochromator technology that is lossless, relatively simple (and thus, cost-effective), and modular, so it can potentially be installed as an upgrade in a wide range of existing EM systems. The proposed monochromator compresses the electron energy rather than filtering it, and thus the resulting electron beam suffers no losses. We use a single crystal, located inside the microscope column, close to the incoming electron beam. Infrared laser pulses are used to generate THz radiation in the crystal which interacts with the electron beam such that the energy of the electron beam is compressed without introducing electron losses.
We aim to achieve this through three main goals: (1) Demonstrate the ability to get strong energy compression in pulsed electron mode with the advantage of low losses. (2) Demonstrate that our idea can also upgrade the performance of traditional low-cost CW operating EM such as low-voltage scanning EM (LV-SEM). (3) Commercialize our IP and penetrate the market. We developed new IP, aiming to commercialize the technology at the end of the project. We are in contact with microscope manufacturers expressing interest in our innovation. Our lossless electron beam monochromator is expected to be a game-changer in all EM applications, in particular the semiconductor inspection and medicine development markets, where high-resolution SEMs are becoming increasingly popular.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-POC2
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
32000 Haifa
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.