Electron Microscope

Resolution is limited partly by wavelength. Visible light has wavelength on the order of hundreds of nanometres. Accelerated electrons can have much shorter de Broglie wavelengths. Since: λ=hp greater electron momentum can produce shorter wavelength. Shorter wavelength enables potentially finer resolution. Electron beams can be controlled using electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic lenses perform a role analogous to glass lenses in an optical microscope.

**shorter wavelength → ability to resolve smaller structures**

At school level, common categories include: transmission electron microscope (TEM); scanning electron microscope (SEM).

**λ=hp For non-relativistic electron: λ=h/mv**