Estimate of the Temperature Rise of Micron-Sized Silver Particles in the Electron Microscope due to Electron-Beam Heating

Abstract

The temperature rise of micron‐sized silver particles on a carbon film due to electron‐beam heating was determined semiquantitatively. A heat‐balance equation was set up by equating the absorbed kinetic energy of the electron beam to the amount of heat given off by radiation and heat conduction. It was shown that heat loss by radiation does not significantly contribute to the temperature rise at temperatures below the melting point of the particle. The temperature rise is strongly influenced by the distance of the particle from heat sinks, i.e., other metallic particles or the specimen grid. The magnitude of the temperature rise can be kept below 50°C for electron‐beam current densities below 10⁻² A·cm⁻².