title: The contrast-to-noise ratio for image quality evaluation in scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) is presented and characterized as a tool for quantitative noise measurement of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Analogies as well as differences between the CNR and the widely used signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are analytically and experimentally investigated. With respect to practical SEM image evaluation using the contrast-to-noise ratio, a standard specimen and an evaluation program are presented.
authors.affiliation: JEOL Technics Ltd., 2-6-38 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Timischl
keywords: contrast; contrast-to-noise ratio; image evaluation; noise; scanning electron microscopy