The Updated Ronchigram.com (Version 2.0)

Ronchigram.com runs locally in a web browser—no installation is required—and runs on any platform (macOS, Windows, Linux) including cell phones (for example, iOS, Android). An offline mode can also be installed to execute Ronchigram.com outside of a web browser, which is particularly valuable for running simulations on microscope computers without an internet connection. Since our previous introduction to Ronchigrams [Reference Schnitzer13], additional functionality has been added to the tool.

The latest version of Ronchigram.com (v2.0) contains several new features: a training module helps build intuition for beam alignment (for example, stigmation, focus, coma); visualization of the corresponding real-space probe (the point spread function) is simultaneously displayed; convergence angle is now calculated from the Strehl ratio, which optimizes probe size better than traditional π/4 phase rules [Reference Schnitzer14]; and other features such as documentation, higher sampling, lower latency, and improved graphic design are included.

Tutorial: Assessing Aberrations with the Ronchigram

To begin alignment training, open Ronchigram.com in the training mode by visiting ronchigram.com/vasco (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Ronchigram.com in training mode. The left panel lists up to 5^th-order geometric aberrations. The right panel displays the Ronchigram alongside a map of areas where the aberration function magnitude is below π/4. The green and blue circles show optimal aperture placement. The real space electron probe is displayed lower right. Keyboard inputs (WASD) adjust the aberration term highlighted by the shaded box. Q and E change the selected term. Up and down arrow keys are mapped to defocus; left and right arrow keys change the step size. The training modes (Easy and Hard) randomize the first three terms (C₁₀, C₁₂, C₂₁) and hide all coefficients, which the user corrects. Hard training mode also hides the phase shift and probe function—mimicking experimental settings. Users are notified when alignment is achieved. The “Randomize!” button generates new aberration values. The “Zero all” button sets all coefficients to zero.

For optimal resolution, the electron beam intensity in real space (the probe function) has to be as tightly focused (that is, sharply peaked with minimal tails) and symmetric (that is, round) as possible. Achieving an optimal probe requires that aberrations be minimized across the largest aperture allowed [Reference Scherzer15]. Experimentally, the Ronchigram reveals the structure and magnitude of aberrations in the objective lens [Reference Ronchi16]. Here we will observe how aberrations affect the Ronchigram and the electron beam shape.

Ronchigram and Aberration Basics

The objective aperture size is a critical parameter for enhancing the diffraction-limited resolution, but a larger aperture comes with a trade-off: better resolution also requires a larger aberration-free (“flat-phase”) region [Reference Intaraprasonk11]. Figure 3e shows a green circle marking the flat-phase region, and, consequently, the largest allowed aperture after alignment. The objective of any microscopist is to tune the Ronchigram to produce the largest flat-phase region possible and place an aperture centered within it to set the final resolution. Regions of the Ronchigram with rapid variation should not be included within the aperture, as these aberrated portions degrade probe shape and resolution.

Figure 3: The features of a Ronchigram can be recognized and tuned. Above, five simulated Ronchigrams at 300 keV with a 95 mrad aperture semi-angle show what this process looks like. a) The Ronchigram begins with defocus, 2-fold astigmatism, axial coma, and 6-fold symmetry. b) Axial coma is reduced. c) Axial coma is fully corrected, and 2-fold astigmatism dominates. d) 2-fold astigmatism is corrected, and the microscope can be adjusted to proper focus. e) A well-aligned Ronchigram has a large low-aberration region (green circle), though higher-order aberrations remain farther out from the center.

Ronchigram.com uses two methods to automatically calculate the maximum aperture allowed in a Ronchigram: the blue circle marks the aperture semi-angle suggested by the π/4 heuristic, and the green circle marks the semi-angle suggested by the 0.8 Strehl ratio heuristic. The 0.8 Strehl ratio heuristic better optimizes probe size when non-spherical aberrations are present [Reference Schnitzer14]. The π/4 heuristic is popular, but less accurate at predicting optimal aperture size.

Figure 3 shows several distinct features of lower-order aberrations that electron microscopists are expected to recognize and correct. In Figure 3a, the most featureless “flat” region is not in the middle of the Ronchigram, which is a sign of some form of axial coma. In Figure 3c, the straight lines are a strong sign of 2-fold astigmatism and defocus. In Figure 3d, the Ronchigram is not at proper focus and has higher-order aberrations around the edge. When focused, as in Figure 3e, the corrected Ronchigram has a large, flat, featureless region inside of the colored circle showing the microscopist the optimal aperture semi-angle. Note that higher-order aberrations will always remain farther out from the center.

The following exercises will help to build an understanding of what the different lower-order aberrations look like in a Ronchigram.

1. 1. Defocus (C₁₀). Starting with the default Ronchigram, change the defocus, C₁₀, through the range of -20 nm to +20 nm using the arrow keys. Pay attention to the flat region in the center and the optimal aperture (colored circle) as they change size.

2. 2. 2-Fold Astigmatism (C₁₂). Leave the defocus between 15 and 20 nm. Use the keys (WASD) to change the magnitude of C₁₂ to about 20 nm, and observe the characteristic streaks, or lines, that appear in the middle of the Ronchigram. Also, observe how the directionality of the streaks in the Ronchigram changes when under- and over-focused (for example, -20 nm and +20 nm C₁₀). 2-fold astigmatism is an important aberration to recognize and is generally corrected manually.

3. 3. Axial Coma (C₂₁). Set C₁₂ to 0 nm and C₁₀ to 20 nm, then increase axial coma to ~200 nm. The Ronchigram bends, and the central flat region is pushed to the side. Now shift the focus from 20 nm to -20 nm and observe as the Ronchigram changes. The key to identifying axial coma is that the flat region of the Ronchigram seems to swing across the aperture; the direction of the swing corresponds to the direction of the coma. To correct C₂₁, minimize this swing while going through focus.

4. 4. Higher-Order Terms. Briefly look at some higher-order terms. Three-fold astigmatism (C₂₃), spherical aberration (C₃₀), and star aberration (C₃₂) all have distinctive features but are hard to distinguish among other higher-order aberrations. To view them without interference, press the “zero all” button, and set the coefficient of choice to an arbitrary value.

Aberration Correction Training

The following exercise will help build familiarity with the training mode and how it works.

1. 1. Setup: To begin, press the “Zero all” button, and then switch “Easy training” to on. By default, this will randomize the first three terms (C₁₀, C₁₂, and C₂₁) and then hide them from the user.

2. 2. Tuning: Adjusting C₁₀, C₁₂, and C₂₁, use your understanding of basic aberrations to make the Ronchigram as flat as possible, as in Figure 3, where the “flat” or “smooth” region shown inside of the green circle becomes larger. The goal is to get the π /4 aperture semi-angle (blue circle) to at least 20 mrad.

3. 3. Feedback: If you get stuck, you can peek at the offset coefficients by switching the training mode to off. The goal is to get the coefficients close to zero. Note that when training mode is re-enabled, the coefficients will be randomized again.

4. 4. Introducing higher-order aberrations: In steps 1, 2, and 3, only three coefficients were randomized, making your job easier, but also less realistic. When tuning a real microscope, there will be higher-order aberrations. Though you primarily correct only the first 3 terms on a real STEM, Ronchigrams will look significantly different than in previous steps. To provide a realistic experimental simulation, simply press “Randomize!” while in training mode. This will produce a Ronchigram with significant C₁₀, C₁₂, and C₂₁ aberrations alongside realistic higher-order aberrations.

5. 5. Hard mode – optional: The “Hard training” switch removes the phase map and probe function, leaving only the Ronchigram, just like in experimental conditions. To prepare for tuning a real microscope, use this mode with randomized higher-order aberrations. At the bottom of the page, there is also a box that allows you to select “Correction training terms.” To increase difficulty further (beyond what you'll normally have to do to tune), change this number to a higher value (for example, 5), and enter training mode.