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There are two types of electron microscopes: scanning and transmission. They function differently from regular ocular microscopes in that the focusing devices are not glass lenses. The focusing device is a beam of electrons in a vacuum tube focused between two large magnets, with the sample to be observed in the middle. Electron microscopes were built so that a sample could be studied not at the cellular level, but at the molecular level. It is possible to see actual molecules with an electron microscope.

Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) examine the surface of the sample. The sample is first frozen in liquid nitrogen, then fractured so it spits in half, is then placed in the vacuum chamber of the scanning microscope and the electron beam scans the inner surface of the sample. The electrons are then digitized, sent to a computer and an image is produced.

With transmission electron microscopes (TEM) the beam of electrons penetrates the sample - it is not a surface scan. Again, a biological sample is frozen in liquid nitrogen, then thin sectioned - cut into microscopically thin slices - then placed into the vacuum chamber of the TEM and the beam penetrates the sample to gain imagery of the molecular structure of the sample.

The first million-volt electron microscope was developed by Jan LePoole, a Dutch physicist, during WWII in an effort to study metal fracture rates for bombs. He beat the Nazis in a race to build the two story microscope, won the Noble Prize and was knighted by the queen of the Netherlands.

The major manufacturers of these microscopes are Philips, Hitachi, and Joel. Visit any of their websites.

To learn more about scanning and transmission electron microscopes also visit the website of the Microscopy Society of America (MSA).

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What does abbreviation scanning electron microscope represent?

The abbreviation "SEM" stands for scanning electron microscope.SEM is a type of microscope that uses electrons to create high-resolution images of a sample's surface topography and composition.


What is the difference between a compound microscope and an electron microscope?

Compound microscopes (also called compound light microscopes) employ light and an array of glass lenses to magnify an object. (This is distinguished from a simple microscope of one lens.) An electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to magnify an object. The lensing system employs electric and magnetic fields and is specialized for applications requiring much higher magnification. See related links.


How does the scanning electron microscope differ from compound microscope?

A scanning electron microscope uses a focused beam of electrons to create high-resolution images of the surface of a specimen in 3D while a compound microscope uses visible light and lenses to magnify and study the internal structures of small specimens. The SEM has higher magnification and resolution capabilities, making it ideal for studying surface details down to the nano-scale.


Is compound microscope and electron microscope same?

An optical microscope of any type uses the light passing through glass lenses. A compound microscope is simply one that uses 2 or more lenses in series. The image is formed normally either in the observer's eye or in a camera fitted to the instrument, or in certain types may be projected onto a screen. An electron microscope passes a finely-focussed beam of electrons through the sample, and creates the resulting image on a photographic film or electronic detectors. The instrument is used to resolve objects that are far smaller than are possible with optical microscopes.


What microscope was used to see oxygen?

The first microscope used to observe oxygen was the optical microscope, which uses visible light to magnify objects. Oxygen itself cannot be seen under a microscope, but its effects on other substances can be observed. More advanced microscopes like electron microscopes can provide detailed images of oxygen-containing molecules.

Related Questions

What is a Transmission electrons?

a transmission electron microscope uses electron beams rather than light.


Which feature is featured in the transmission electron microscope and not featured on the light microscope?

it uses electromagnets


What is the difference between a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope?

A transmission electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to create detailed images of the internal structure of a sample, while a scanning electron microscope uses a focused beam of electrons to create high-resolution surface images of a sample.


Which is a feature of a light microscope and is not a feature of a scanning or transmission electron microscope?

It uses a combination of lenses.


What are the types of microscopes uses and advatanges?

Compound ,Dissection or Stereoscope, Confocal Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).


What is the name of the microscope that uses beams of electorns instead of light to view cells?

transmission or electron microscope


What microscope can magnify up to a million times?

An electron microscope, specifically a transmission electron microscope, can magnify up to a million times. This type of microscope uses a beam of accelerated electrons to create images with extremely high resolution.


Which type of microscope can magnify objects up to a million times?

An electron microscope is capable of magnifying objects up to a million times. This type of microscope uses a beam of accelerated electrons to view specimens at a much higher resolution compared to light microscopes.


What is a transmission electron microscope used for?

The transmission electron microscope operates on the same principle as the light microscope but uses electrons instead of light. What you can see with a light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light. Transmission electron microscopes use electrons as "light source" and their much lower wavelength makes it possible to get a resolution a thousand times better than with light microscope.


Electron microscopes use a beam of light to produce a magnified image?

Actually, electron microscopes use a beam of electrons instead of light to produce a magnified image. This allows for much higher magnification and resolution compared to optical microscopes.


What is a transmission electron microscope used for diagnosis?

The transmission electron microscope operates on the same principle as the light microscope but uses electrons instead of light. What you can see with a light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light. Transmission electron microscopes use electrons as "light source" and their much lower wavelength makes it possible to get a resolution a thousand times better than with light microscope.


A microscope that uses electrons to examine a specimen is called a what?

A microscope that uses electrons to examine a specimen is called a transmission electron microscope (TEM). It has a higher magnification and resolution compared to light microscopes, allowing for detailed viewing of subcellular structures and particles.