A hydrodynamic approach to electron beam imaging using a Bloch wave representation

Abstract: Calculations of propagating quantum trajectories associated to a wave function provide new insight into quantum processes such as particle scattering and diffraction. Here, hydrodynamic calculations of electron beam imaging under conditions comparable to those of a scanning or transmission electron microscope display the mechanisms behind different commonly investigated diffraction conditions. The Bloch wave method is used to propagate the electron wave function and associated trajectories are computed to map the wave function as it propagates through the material. Simulations of the two-beam condition and the systematic row are performed and electron diffraction is analysed through a real space interpretation of the wave function. In future work, this method can be further coupled with Monte Carlo modelling in order to create all encompassing simulations of electron imaging.