Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 51, 10901 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap/2010065

Investigating sublimation and the effect of an imaging gas in a VPSEM

¹ Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
² FEI Company, P.O. Box 80066, 5600 KA Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Corresponding author: dw284@cam.ac.uk

Received: 26 November 2009
Accepted: 7 April 2010
Published online: 11 June 2010

Abstract

In this paper we present an investigation into the possible link between the pressure of the gas in the surrounding environment and the rate of ice sublimation in a VPSEM (variable pressure scanning electron microscope). Although this is mainly significant to an electron microscopist working in a variable pressure environment, it is relevant to people working at low pressures who wish to have control over the rate of sample dehydration where the input of water vapour is not a viable alternative.