The top-bottom iV-beam phase contrast effect from finite crystals II. Theory

Abstract The top-bottom contrast effect which has been observed in dark-field images of aperiodic surface detail and which was discussed in Part I is shown to arise as a result of N-beam refraction reversal in one or more of the important Bloch wave components, formed by high-energy transmission electron diffraction. The effect is shown to arise in two-beam as well as N-beam diffraction. In particular, the zero-contrast condition, whereby the contrast from one or other surface is suppressed, and found experimentally in Part I, is found to arise as a consequence of a finite-crystal Bloch wave degeneracy.