I know the machine fires electrons at a sample and the electrons are reflected back. How does that translate into a super detailed image? Why is it higher resolution than a light microscope? Why can it only use dead samples?
Edit: Also, why is it in black and white?
In: Technology
A picture can’t be more detailed than the size of the particles used to take the picture.
Electrons have shorter wavelength than photons in the visible light range. ( around 10**-12 vs 10**-7 meters )
IOW, the wavelength of an electron from an electron microscope is about 100 thousand times smaller. Smaller wavelengths mean more precise images.
You can take pictures of living things, but they won’t be very healthy afterwards. They are getting hit by very energetic particles which will kill most living things.
Also, even if the living thing can survive being zapped by a particle beam, it has to hold its breath for a long time. Electron microscopes need the sample in a vacuum to prevent arcing of the electron gun.
And, on top of all of this, most samples for electron microscopes are sliced into very thin sheets.
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