System and process for measuring strain in materials at high spatial resolution

Abstract

A process for measuring strain is provided that includes placing a sample of a material into a TEM as a sample. The TEM is energized to create a small electron beam with an incident angle to the sample. Electrical signals are generated that control multiple beam deflection coils and image deflection coils of the TEM. The beam deflection control signals cause the angle of the incident beam to change in a cyclic time-dependent manner. A first diffraction pattern from the sample material that shows dynamical diffraction effects is observed and then one or more of the beam deflection coil control signals are adjusted to reduce the dynamical diffraction effects. One or more of the image deflection coil control signals are then adjusted to remove any motion of the diffraction pattern. A diffraction pattern is then collected from a strained area of the material after the adjusting step, and the strain is then determined from a numerical analysis of the strained diffraction pattern compared to a reference diffraction pattern from an unstained area of the material.