title: Quantitative characterization of electron detectors for transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: A new generation of direct electron detectors for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) promises significant improvement over previous detectors in terms of their modulation transfer function (MTF) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). However, the performance of these new detectors needs to be carefully monitored in order to optimize imaging conditions and check for degradation over time. We have developed an easy-to-use software tool, FindDQE, to measure MTF and DQE of electron detectors using images of a microscope's built-in beam stop. Using this software, we have determined the DQE curves of four direct electron detectors currently available: the Gatan K2 Summit, the FEI Falcon I and II, and the Direct Electron DE-12, under a variety of total dose and dose rate conditions. We have additionally measured the curves for the Gatan US4000 and TVIPS TemCam-F416 scintillator-based cameras. We compare the results from our new method with published curves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, MS029, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
authors.forename: Adrian I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ruskin
authors.forename: Zhiheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grigorieff
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software
keywords: DQE; Direct electron detector; MTF; Transmission electron microscopy