Electron microscopy—The U.K. involvement

• Published in: Micron and microscopica acta Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 67 - 75
• Main Author: Mulvey, Tom
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1986
• Subjects: analytical STEM; electron diffraction camera; Electron-microscope inventors; high resolution TEM; electron diffraction camera; high resolution TEM; Electron-microscope inventors; analytical STEM
• ISSN: 0739-6260
• DOI: 10.1016/0739-6260(86)90036-5

The development of the electron microscope in the advanced form we know today is the result of a loosely organized but effective world-wide scientific and technological collaboration, that readily transcends national and cultural barriers. The birth of the subject was undoubtedly in Berlin but the United Kingdom has played a prominent part, sometimes in an accidental way, at critical periods in this development both at the scientific and manufacturing level. In 1927, for example, G.P. Thompson established experimentally the wave nature of the electron and its scattering and diffraction by thin foils. This followed his invention of the electron diffraction camera at a time when De Broglie's postulates on the wave of nature of the electron were not enjoying much support, even in his native France. C.W. Oatley in Cambridge University was successful in introducing the first commercial scanning electron microscope (SEM) where several commercial firms had previously failed. D. Gabor invented electron holography in a moment of boredom while watching a tennis match. The U.K. has also played a key role in fostering international collaboration by means of conferences and exchange visits between electron microscopists. The present paper concentrates on some of the critical developments that took place in the U.K. in the commercial development of transmission electron microscopy, in scanning electron microscopy and more recently in high resolution electron microscopy. These developments are placed as far as possible in a world-wide context.