Laser Induced Electron Diffraction is a powerful and versatile technique that can be used to investigate the structure and properties of materials at the atomic level. It is particularly well suited to studying thin films, surfaces and interfaces.
The principle of laser induced electron diffraction is simple: a focused laser beam is directed at a sample, causing electrons in the material to be excited into higher energy levels. These excited electrons then emit photons as they return to their lower energy levels, and these photons are detected by an electron microscope. The interference pattern created by the photons provides information about the position of atoms within the sample.
Laser induced electron diffraction has many advantages over other techniques such as X-ray diffraction or Transmission Electron Microscopy. Firstly, it does not require any special preparation of the sample – it can simply be placed in the path of the laser beam. Secondly, it is non-destructive, meaning that samples can be studied multiple times or even in situ (i.e., without being removed from their environment). Finally, laser induced electron diffraction can provide information on both crystalline and amorphous materials, making it a very versatile tool.
Applications of laser induced electron diffraction include investigating defects in semiconductor materials, studying interface structures in catalysts and determining the composition of nanomaterials. In each case, this technique provides valuable insights that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain.