Interactive simulation of high-resolution electron micrographs

Abstract

Only a few years ago image simulation of HRTEM images were mostly carried out as low priority jobs on large mainframe computers with images available the next day as overprinted characters on computer paper. Today the same calculation can be carried out on a dedicated workstation in a matter of minutes with output on high resolution video monitors. This improvement in computer hardware has produced a shift from software primarily designed to run as batch jobs to interactive software that allows instant changes to both the atomic model and microscope parameters. In these near “real time” calculations the user interface becomes an important part of the software, since setting up the conditions for the calculation may take longer than the calculation itself.In an attempt to create a truly interactive environment for simulation of HRTEM images, a new set of programs has been written at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM) at Berkeley.