Design of an electron microscope phase plate using a focused continuous-wave laser

Abstract

We propose a Zernike phase contrast electron microscope that uses an intense laser focus to convert a phase image into a visible image. We present the relativistic quantum theory of the phase shift caused by the laser-electron interaction, study resonant cavities for enhancing the laser intensity and discuss applications in biology, soft-materials science and atomic and molecular physics. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.