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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
A long term aim of this study is to overcome the difficulties to use electron microscopes (TEM, SEM) for in situ experiments, which includes (1) a preparation of initially clean surfaces, (2) a use of specimen micro-chambers, (3) in situ heating, (4) devices to produce and analyse reactions and (5) video registration. An interesting step in this direction is the replacement of the usual thin films by specimens in form of tips similar to those used in field emission devices. A tip is first prepared by electrolytic etching. Then the tip is cleaned and shaped in vacuum. This opens the possibility to visualize and measure kinetic phenomena up to higher temperatures than so far (1500 K and more). Examples of results are: (1) Surface matter fluxes and surface self-diffusion can be measured, (2) solid/solid interfaces and their displacements (reactions) can be measured, (3) grain boundary displacements and grain rotations can be measured and (4) periodic electric discharges between electrodes of 0.1 gim on specimens are prepared, visualized and explained.