Principles of image formation by a lens

Chapter 1 is concerned with the fundamental principles of image formation by a lens. These principles were first formulated by Ernst Abbe in 1873 and are basic to the chapters that follow. According to the Abbe theory, the image of an illuminated object is the result of a twofold diffraction process. First, the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of the object is formed in the back focal plane of the lens. Second, the light waves travel... 

This chapter describes briefly the basic construction and characteristics of the modern transmission electron microscope and discusses its principal modes of operation. Because the electron microscope is an analogue of the optical (or light) microscope, we also consider briefly the basic features of the optical microscope this will also provide a link with our earlier discussion of the optical principles of image formation by a lens. 

Figure 14.1. Schematic diagram showing the principle of image formation and diffraction in the transmission electron microscope. The incident beam/o illuminates the specimen. Scattered and unscattered electrons are collected by the objective lens and foeused back to form first an electron diffraction pattern and then an image. For a 2D or 3D crystal, the electron-diffraetion pattern would show a lattice of spots, eaeh of whose intensity is a small fraetion of that of the incident beam. In praetiee, an in-focus image has no eontrast, so images are recorded with the objeetive lens slightly defocused to take advantage of the out-of-focus phase-contrast mechanism.

The ray model of light is of limited usefulness. If we are to understand the fundamental processes involved in the formation of an image by a lens, we must consider the wave nature of light. The simplest form of the wave theory of light is based on a geometrical construction known as Huygens principle, which is usually stated as follows ... 

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