Electron microdiffraction patterns of small metallic particles

Abstract

Microdiffraction patterns were obtained from single crystals of gold deposited by evaporation in U.H.V. onto sodium chloride substrates. The patterns show the main spots split into two or more components whose exact positions and intensities depend on the orientation of the particles with respect to the incident beam. The splitting is interpreted as being due to the presence of wedges on the particles. Dynamical theory is used to explain the detailed positions and intensities; the validities of the dynamical many-beam and kinematical theories are analysed. The splitting effect is used to determine the behaviour of small metallic particles.