Optical, Electron, and Scanning Probe Microscopy: A Technical Deep Dive

Timeline of Microscopy Development

  • 17th Century: Optical microscope
  • 1884: Henry Le Chatelier develops the metallographic microscope
  • 1931/1933: Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
  • 1942, 1950: Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
  • 1981: Scanning tunneling microscope (STM)
  • 1986: Atomic force microscope (AFM)

Resolution in Microscopy

Optical microscopes have a resolution in the micrometer (μm) range, while electron and scanning probe microscopes achieve nanometer (nm) resolution.

Optical Microscopy

Rays passing

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