Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an analytical technique capable of producing extremely high magnification images of thin samples. It finds application in both material science and cellular biology. In traditional TEM, the electron beam is collimated with electromagnets, after which it passes through a sample and is then focused onto a phosphor screen. In order to record image data, however, the screen must be moved out of the beam so that a film plate can collect the image. This imaging technique and the subsequent film development are inherently non-time-resolved. By replacing the film plate with an electron scintillator and a high-performance CCD (HCCD) camera, electron microscopists obtain a real-time, highly sensitive, digital imaging solution.

TEM digital imaging incorporating Roper Scientific cameras provides instant digital feedback, quantitative intensity measurement, and low-light sensitivity. HCCDs have allowed researchers to expand the horizons of TEM and solve analytical microscopy problems that were previously impossible. Roper Scientific has long been a supplier of CCD cameras for TEM and will continue to provide state-of-the-art digital imaging solutions for the TEM community.

A common configuration is a 2048 x 2048-pixel CCD that uses fiberoptic or lens coupling to the scintillator. Extra shielding is provided to protect the camera from the high-energy x-rays found in high-energy electron microscopy.