Scanning Electron Microscope - Essay Example
Areas that range from a width of one centimetre to as minute as five microns can be seen in scanning mode using techniques in scanning electron microscopy. The magnification ranges from 20X to 30,000X with spatial resolution of fifty to one hundred nanometres. The SEM also has the capability of analysing specific locations found on the sample, with this approach being particularly useful in semi-quantitative and qualitative determination of crystal orientations, crystalline structure, and chemical compositions. A scanning electron microscope images samples via scanning them with electron beams with the sample in a raster scan pattern (Reimer, 2008 p 97). The electrons released by the SEM interact with sample atoms and produce signals that consist of information revealing the composition and topography, as well as electrical conductivity.
