Femtosecond electron imaging of defect-modulated phonon dynamics

Killer Phonon Caught: Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy Identifies Phonon-Induced Control of Photophysics in Rubrene Derivatives

Molecular reaction coordinates are defined by the interplay of a number of orthogonal nuclear coordinates and are inherently multidimensional for large molecules. Identifying how specific nuclear motions along these reaction coordinates can be used to drive and control chemical processes is a promising approach for the optimization of chemical outcomes and targeted synthetic design. Here, we used femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) to quantify the effects of individual phonon nuclear motions on singlet fission in rubrene derivatives. Rubrene readily undergoes singlet fission and is amendable to chemical derivatization, yet the factors that impact the singlet fission yield are not fully understood. Crystal packing is known to play a significant role in both fission and carrier transport, and thus, we focused on the impact of phonon nuclear motions on the photophysics. We used four halogen-substituted rubrene crystals and successfully identified one specific phonon mode that suppresses singlet fission in these crystals. We used FSRS with single-pulse excitation and double-pulse excitation to coherently amplify each phonon mode and quantify its effects on the excited-state process. We found that coherent amplification of the specific phonon vibration involving twisting of the peripheral phenyl rings and tetracene core motions resulted in less ground-state depletion and fewer triplet state absorption. Our study demonstrated that it is possible to use coherent phonon excitation to influence the photophysical outcome, while also showing that FSRS with double-pulse excitation can be a successful tool for quantifying mode-selective contributions to photophysics.

Terahertz control and timing correlations in a transmission electron microscope

Ultrafast electron microscopy provides a movie-like access to structural dynamics of materials in space and time, but fundamental atomic motions or electron dynamics are, so far, too quick to be resolved. Here, we report the all-optical control, compression, and characterization of electron pulses in a transmission electron microscope by the single optical cycles of laser-generated terahertz light. This concept provides isolated electron pulses and merges the spatial resolution of a transmission electron microscope with the temporal resolution that is offered by a single cycle of laser light. We also report the all-optical control of multi-electron states and find a substantial two-electron and three-electron anticorrelation in the time domain. These results open up the possibility to visualize atomic and electronic motions together with their quantum correlations on fundamental dimensions in space and time.

Electron Imaging of Nanoscale Charge Distributions Induced by Femtosecond Light Pulses

Surface charging is ubiquitously observable during in situ transmission electron microscopy of nonconducting specimens as a result of electron beam/sample interactions or optical stimuli and often limits the achievable image stability and spatial or spectral resolution. Here, we report on the electron-optical imaging of surface charging on a nanostructured surface following femtosecond multiphoton photoemission. By quantitatively extracting the light-induced electrostatic potential and studying the charging dynamics on relevant time scales, we gain insights into the details of the multiphoton photoemission process in the presence of an electrostatic background field. We study the interaction of the charge distribution with the high-energy electron beam and secondary electrons and propose a simple model to describe the interplay of electron- and light-induced processes. In addition, we demonstrate how to mitigate sample charging by simultaneously optically illuminating the sample.

Ultrafast Nanoimaging of Spin-Mediated Shear Waves in an Acoustic Cavity

Strong spin-lattice coupling in van der Waals (vdW) magnets shows potential for innovative magneto-mechanical applications. Here, nanoscale and picosecond imaging by ultrafast electron microscopy reveal heterogeneous spin-mediated coherent acoustic phonon dynamics in a thin-film cavity of the vdW antiferromagnet FePS3. The harmonics of the interlayer shear acoustic modes are observed, in which the even and odd harmonics exhibit distinct nanoscopic dynamics. Corroborated by acoustic wave simulation, the role of defects in forming even harmonics is elucidated. Above the Néel temperature (TN), the interlayer shear acoustic harmonics are suppressed, while the in-plane traveling wave is predominantly excited. The dominant acoustic dynamics shifts from the out-of-plane shear to the in-plane traveling wave across TN, demonstrating that magnetic properties can influence phonon scattering pathways. The spatiotemporally resolved structural characterization provides valuable nanoscopic insights for interlayer-shear-mode-based acoustic cavities, opening up possibilities for magneto-mechanical applications of vdW magnets.

Sub-terahertz nearfields for electron-pulse compression

The advent of ultrafast science with pulsed electron beams raised the need to control the temporal features of the electron pulses. One promising suggestion is the nano-selective quantum optics with multi-electrons, which scales quadratically with the number of electrons within the coherence time of the quantum system. Terahertz (THz) radiation from optical nonlinear crystals is an attractive methodology to generate the rapidly varying electric fields necessary for electron compression, with the advantage of an inherent temporal locking to laser-triggered electrons, such as in ultrafast electron microscopes. Longer (picosecond-) pulses require a sub-THz field for their compression. However, the generation of such low frequencies requires pumping with energetic optical pulses and their focusability is fundamentally limited by their mm-wavelength. This work proposes electron-pulse compression with sub-THz fields directly in the vicinity of their dipolar origin, thereby avoiding mediation through radiation. We analyze the merits of nearfields for compression of slow electrons, particularly in challenging regimes for THz radiation, such as small numerical apertures, micro-joule-level optical pump pulses, and low frequencies. This scheme can be implemented within the tight constraints of electron microscopes and reach fields of a few kV/cm below 0.1 THz at high repetition rates. Our paradigm offers a realistic approach for controlling electron pulses spatially and temporally in many experiments, opening the path of flexible multi-electron manipulation for analytic and quantum sciences.

Lossless Monochromator in an Ultrafast Electron Microscope Using Near-Field THz Radiation

The ability to form monoenergetic electron beams is vital for high-resolution electron spectroscopy and imaging. Such capabilities are commonly achieved using an electron monochromator, which energy filters a dispersed electron beam, thus reducing the electron flux to yield down to meV energy resolution. This reduction in flux hinders the use of monochromators in many applications, such as ultrafast transmission electron microscopes (UTEMs). Here, we develop and demonstrate a mechanism for electron energy monochromation that does not reduce the flux-a lossless monochromator. The mechanism is based on the interaction of free-electron pulses with single-cycle THz near fields, created by nonlinear conversion of an optical laser pulse near the electron beam path inside a UTEM. Our experiment reduces the electron energy spread by a factor of up to 2.9 without compromising the beam flux. Moreover, as the electron-THz interaction takes place over an extended region of many tens of microns in free space, the realized technique is highly robust-granting uniform monochromation over a wide area, larger than the electron beam diameter. We further demonstrate the wide tunability of our method by monochromating the electron beam at multiple primary electron energies from 60 to 200 keV, studying the effect of various electron and THz parameters on its performance. Our findings have direct applications in the fast-growing field of ultrafast electron microscopy, allowing time- and energy-resolved studies of exciton physics, phononic vibrational resonances, charge transport effects, and optical excitations in the mid IR to the far IR.

Real-time imaging of acoustic waves in bulk materials with X-ray microscopy

The dynamics of lattice vibrations govern many material processes, such as acoustic wave propagation, displacive phase transitions, and ballistic thermal transport. The maximum velocity of these processes and their effects is determined by the speed of sound, which therefore defines the temporal resolution (picoseconds) needed to resolve these phenomena on their characteristic length scales (nanometers). Here, we present an X-ray microscope capable of imaging acoustic waves with subpicosecond resolution within mm-sized crystals. We directly visualize the generation, propagation, branching, and energy dissipation of longitudinal and transverse acoustic waves in diamond, demonstrating how mechanical energy thermalizes from picosecond to microsecond timescales. Bulk characterization techniques capable of resolving this level of structural detail have previously been available on millisecond time scales-orders of magnitude too slow to capture these fundamental phenomena in solid-state physics and geoscience. As such, the reported results provide broad insights into the interaction of acoustic waves with the structure of materials, and the availability of ultrafast time-resolved dark-field X-ray microscopy opens a vista of new opportunities for 3D imaging of materials dynamics on their intrinsic submicrosecond time scales.

Spin-mediated shear oscillators in a van der Waals antiferromagnet

Understanding how microscopic spin configuration gives rise to exotic properties at the macroscopic length scale has long been pursued in magnetic materials1-5. One seminal example is the Einstein-de Haas effect in ferromagnets1,6,7, in which angular momentum of spins can be converted into mechanical rotation of an entire object. However, for antiferromagnets without net magnetic moment, how spin ordering couples to macroscopic movement remains elusive. Here we observed a seesaw-like rotation of reciprocal lattice peaks of an antiferromagnetic nanolayer film, whose gigahertz structural resonance exhibits more than an order-of-magnitude amplification after cooling below the Néel temperature. Using a suite of ultrafast diffraction and microscopy techniques, we directly visualize this spin-driven rotation in reciprocal space at the nanoscale. This motion corresponds to interlayer shear in real space, in which individual micro-patches of the film behave as coherent oscillators that are phase-locked and shear along the same in-plane axis. Using time-resolved optical polarimetry, we further show that the enhanced mechanical response strongly correlates with ultrafast demagnetization, which releases elastic energy stored in local strain gradients to drive the oscillators. Our work not only offers the first microscopic view of spin-mediated mechanical motion of an antiferromagnet but it also identifies a new route towards realizing high-frequency resonators8,9 up to the millimetre band, so the capability of controlling magnetic states on the ultrafast timescale10-13 can be readily transferred to engineering the mechanical properties of nanodevices.

In Situ Electron Microscopy of Transformations of Copper Nanoparticles under Plasmonic Excitation

Metal nanoparticles are attracting interest for their light-absorption properties, but such materials are known to dynamically evolve under the action of chemical and physical perturbations, resulting in changes in their structure and composition. Using a transmission electron microscope equipped for optical excitation of the specimen, the structural evolution of Cu-based nanoparticles under simultaneous electron beam irradiation and plasmonic excitation was investigated with high spatiotemporal resolution. These nanoparticles initially have a Cu core-Cu₂O oxide shell structure, but over the course of imaging, they undergo hollowing via the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. We captured the nucleation of a void within the core, which then rapidly grows along specific crystallographic directions until the core is hollowed out. Hollowing is triggered by electron-beam irradiation; plasmonic excitation enhances the kinetics of the transformation likely by the effect of photothermal heating.

Characterization of transverse electron pulse trains using RF powered traveling wave metallic comb striplines

Advancements in ultrafast electron microscopy have allowed elucidation of spatially selective structural dynamics. However, as the spatial resolution and imaging capabilities have made progress, quantitative characterization of the electron pulse trains has not been reported at the same rate. In fact, inexperienced users have difficulty replicating the technique because only a few dedicated microscopes have been characterized thoroughly. Systems replacing laser driven photoexcitation with electrically driven deflectors especially suffer from a lack of quantified characterization because of the limited quantity. The primary advantages to electrically driven systems are broader frequency ranges, ease of use and simple synchronization to electrical pumping. Here, we characterize the technical parameters for electrically driven UEM including the shape, size and duration of the electron pulses using low and high frequency chopping methods. At high frequencies, pulses are generated by sweeping the electron beam across a chopping aperture. For low frequencies, the beam is continuously forced off the optic axis by a DC potential, then momentarily aligned by a countering pulse. Using both methods, we present examples that measure probe durations of 2 ns and 10 ps for the low and high frequency techniques, respectively. We also discuss how the implementation of a pulsed probe affects STEM imaging conditions by adjusting the first condenser lens.

Characterizing an Optically Induced Sub-micrometer Gigahertz Acoustic Wave in a Silicon Thin Plate

Optically induced GHz-THz guided acoustic waves have been intensively studied because of the potential to realize noninvasive and noncontact material inspection. Although the generation of photoinduced guided acoustic waves utilizing nanostructures, such as ultrathin plates, nanowires, and materials interfaces, is being established, experimental characterization of these acoustic waves in consideration of the finite size effect has been difficult due to the lack of experimental methods with nm × ps resolution. Here we experimentally observe the sub-micrometer guided acoustic waves in a nanofabricated ultrathin silicon plate by ultrafast transmission electron microscopy with nm × ps precision. We successfully characterize the excited guided acoustic wave in frequency-wavenumber space by applying Fourier-transformation analysis on the bright-field movie. These results suggest the great potential of ultrafast transmission electron microscopy to characterize the acoustic modes realized in various nanostructures.

Real-Space Imaging of the Molecular Changes in Metal-Organic Frameworks under Electron Irradiation

Electron-induced structural changes influence the characterizations of the local structure of various materials by electron microscope. However, for beam-sensitive materials, it is still challenging to detect such changes by electron microscopy, which may help us quantitatively reveal how electrons interact with materials under electron irradiation. Here, we use an emergent phase contrast technique in electron microscopy to clearly image a metal-organic framework, UiO-66 (Zr), at an ultralow electron dose and dose rate. The effects of both the dose and dose rate on the UiO-66 (Zr) structure are visualized, which induce obvious missing organic linkers. The kinetics of the missing linker based on the radiolysis mechanism are semiquantitatively expressed by the different intensities of the imaged organic linkers. Deformation of the UiO-66 (Zr) lattice after the missing linker is also observed. These observations make it possible to visually investigate the electron-induced chemistry in various beam-sensitive materials and avoid electron damage to them.

Ultrafast Electron Microscopy of Nanoscale Charge Dynamics in Semiconductors

The ultrafast dynamics of charge carriers in solids plays a pivotal role in emerging optoelectronics, photonics, energy harvesting, and quantum technology applications. However, the investigation and direct visualization of such nonequilibrium phenomena remains as a long-standing challenge, owing to the nanometer-femtosecond spatiotemporal scales at which the charge carriers evolve. Here, we propose and demonstrate an interaction mechanism enabling nanoscale imaging of the femtosecond dynamics of charge carriers in solids. This imaging modality, which we name charge dynamics electron microscopy (CDEM), exploits the strong interaction of free-electron pulses with terahertz (THz) near fields produced by the moving charges in an ultrafast scanning transmission electron microscope. The measured free-electron energy at different spatiotemporal coordinates allows us to directly retrieve the THz near-field amplitude and phase, from which we reconstruct movies of the generated charges by comparison to microscopic theory. The CDEM technique thus allows us to investigate previously inaccessible spatiotemporal regimes of charge dynamics in solids, providing insight into the photo-Dember effect and showing oscillations of photogenerated electron-hole distributions inside a semiconductor. Our work facilitates the exploration of a wide range of previously inaccessible charge-transport phenomena in condensed matter using ultrafast electron microscopy.

Time-resolved transmission electron microscopy for nanoscale chemical dynamics

The ability of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to image a structure ranging from millimetres to Ångströms has made it an indispensable component of the toolkit of modern chemists. TEM has enabled unprecedented understanding of the atomic structures of materials and how structure relates to properties and functions. Recent developments in TEM have advanced the technique beyond static material characterization to probing structural evolution on the nanoscale in real time. Accompanying advances in data collection have pushed the temporal resolution into the microsecond regime with the use of direct-electron detectors and down to the femtosecond regime with pump-probe microscopy. Consequently, studies have deftly applied TEM for understanding nanoscale dynamics, often in operando. In this Review, time-resolved in situ TEM techniques and their applications for probing chemical and physical processes are discussed, along with emerging directions in the TEM field.

Nanoscale subparticle imaging of vibrational dynamics using dark-field ultrafast transmission electron microscopy

An understanding of nanoscale energy transport and acoustic response is important for applications of nanomaterials but hinges on a complete characterization of their structural dynamics. The precise determination of the structural dynamics within nanoparticles, however, is still challenging and requires high spatiotemporal resolution and detection sensitivity. Here we present a centred dark-field imaging approach based on ultrafast transmission electron microscopy that is capable of directly mapping the picosecond-scale evolution of intrananoparticle vibration with a spatial resolution down to 3 nm. Using this approach, we investigated the photo-induced vibrational dynamics in individual gold heterodimers composed of a nanoprism and a nanosphere. We observed not only the retardation of in-plane vibrations in the nanoprisms, which we attribute to thermal and vibrational energy transferred from adjacent nanospheres mediated by surfactants, but also the existence of a complex multimodal oscillation and its spatial variation within individual nanoprisms. This work represents an advance in real-space mapping of vibrational dynamics on the subnanoparticle level with a high detection sensitivity.

Development of five-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy

By combining the scanning transmission electron microscopy with the ultrafast optical pump-probe technique, we improved the time resolution by a factor of ∼10¹² for the differential phase contrast and convergent-beam electron diffraction imaging. These methods provide ultrafast nanoscale movies of physical quantities in nano-materials, such as crystal lattice deformation, magnetization vector, and electric field. We demonstrate the observations of the photo-induced acoustic phonon propagation with an accuracy of 4 ps and 8 nm and the ultrafast demagnetization under zero magnetic field with 10 ns and 400 nm resolution, by utilizing these methods.

Femtosecond-resolved imaging of a single-particle phase transition in energy-filtered ultrafast electron microscopy

Using an energy filter in transmission electron microscopy has enabled elemental mapping at the atomic scale and improved the precision of structural determination by gating inelastic and elastic imaging electrons, respectively. Here, we use an energy filter in ultrafast electron microscopy to enhance the temporal resolution toward the domain of atomic motion. Visualizing transient structures with femtosecond temporal precision was achieved by selecting imaging electrons in a narrow energy distribution from dense chirped photoelectron packets with broad longitudinal momentum distributions and thus typically exhibiting picosecond durations. In this study, the heterogeneous ultrafast phase transitions of vanadium dioxide (VO₂) nanoparticles, a representative strongly correlated system, were filmed and attributed to the emergence of a transient, low-symmetry metallic phase caused by different local strains. Our approach enables electron microscopy to access the time scale of elementary nuclear motion to visualize the onset of the structural dynamics of matter at the nanoscale.

Influence of strain on an ultrafast phase transition

The flexibility of 2D materials combined with properties highly sensitive to strain makes strain engineering a promising avenue for manipulation of both structure and function. Here we investigate the influence of strain, associated with microstructural defects, on a photo-induced structural phase transition in Td-WTe₂. Above threshold photoexcitation of uniform, non-strained, samples result in an orthorhombic Td to a metastable orthorhombic 1T* phase transition facilitated by shear displacements of the WTe₂ layers along the b axis of the material. In samples prepared with wrinkle defects WTe₂ continue its trajectory through a secondary transition that shears the unit cell along the c axis towards a metastable monoclinic 1T' phase. The time scales and microstructural evolution associated with the transition and its subsequent recovery to the 1T* phase is followed in detail by a combination of ultrafast electron diffraction and microscopy. Our findings show how local strain fields can be employed for tailoring phase change dynamics in ultrafast optically driven processes with potential applications in phase change devices.

Visualizing optically-induced strains by five-dimensional ultrafast electron microscopy

Ultrafast optical control of strain is crucial for the future development of nanometric acoustic devices. Although ultrafast electron microscopy has played an important role in the visualization of strain dynamics in the GHz frequency region, quantitative strain evaluation with nm × ps spatio-temporal resolution is still challenging. Five-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (5D-STEM) is a powerful technique that measures time-dependent diffraction or deflection of the electron beam at the respective two-dimensional sample positions in real space. In this paper, we demonstrate that convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) measurements using 5D-STEM are capable of quantitative time-dependent strain mapping in the nm × ps scale. We observe the generation and propagation of acoustic waves in a nanofabricated silicon thin plate of 100 nm thickness. The polarization and amplitude of the acoustic waves propagating in the silicon plate are quantitatively determined from the CBED analysis. Further Fourier-transformation analysis reveals the strain distribution in the momentum-frequency space, which gives the dispersion relation in arbitrary directions along the plate. Versatility of 5D-STEM-CBED analysis enables quantitative strain mapping even in complex nanofabricated samples, as demonstrated in this study.

Single-photoelectron collection efficiency in 4D ultrafast electron microscopy

In femtosecond (fs) 4D ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM), a tradeoff is made between photoelectrons per packet and time resolution. One consequence of this can be longer-than-desirable acquisition times for low-density packets, and particularly for low repetition rates when complete photothermal dissipation is required. Thus, gaining an understanding of photoelectron trajectories in the gun region is important for identifying factors that limit collection efficiency (CE; fraction of photoelectrons that enter the illumination system). Here, we continue our work on the systematic study of photoelectron trajectories in the gun region of a Thermo Fisher/FEI Tecnai Femto UEM, focusing specifically on CE in the single-electron regime. Using General Particle Tracer, calculated field maps, and the exact architecture of the Tecnai Femto UEM, we simulated the effects of fs laser parameters and key gun elements on CE. The results indicate CE strongly depends upon the laser spot size on the source, the (unbiased) Wehnelt aperture diameter, and the incident photon energy. The CE dispersion with laser spot size is found to be strongly dependent on aperture diameter, being nearly dispersionless for the largest apertures. A gun crossover is also observed, with the beam-waist position being dependent on the aperture diameter, further illustrating that the Wehnelt aperture acts as a simple, fixed electrostatic lens in UEM mode. This work provides further insights into the operational aspects of fs 4D UEM.

X-ray nanodiffraction imaging reveals distinct nanoscopic dynamics of an ultrafast phase transition

SignificancePhase transitions, the changes between states of matter with distinct electronic, magnetic, or structural properties, are at the center of condensed matter physics and underlie valuable technologies. First-order phase transitions are intrinsically heterogeneous. When driven by ultrashort excitation, nanoscale phase regions evolve rapidly, which has posed a significant experimental challenge to characterize. The newly developed laser-pumped X-ray nanodiffraction imaging technique reported here has simultaneous 100-ps temporal and 25-nm spatial resolutions. This approach reveals pathways of the nanoscale structural rearrangement upon ultrafast optical excitation, different from those transitions under slowly varying parameters. The spatiotemporally resolved structural characterization provides crucial nanoscopic insights into ultrafast phase transitions and opens opportunities for controlling nanoscale phases on ultrafast time scales.

A kiloelectron-volt ultrafast electron micro-diffraction apparatus using low emittance semiconductor photocathodes

We report the design and performance of a time-resolved electron diffraction apparatus capable of producing intense bunches with simultaneously single digit micrometer probe size, long coherence length, and 200 fs rms time resolution. We measure the 5d (peak) beam brightness at the sample location in micro-diffraction mode to be 7 × 10 13   A / m 2   rad 2 . To generate high brightness electron bunches, the system employs high efficiency, low emittance semiconductor photocathodes driven with a wavelength near the photoemission threshold at a repetition rate up to 250 kHz. We characterize spatial, temporal, and reciprocal space resolution of the apparatus. We perform proof-of-principle measurements of ultrafast heating in single crystal Au samples and compare experimental results with simulations that account for the effects of multiple scattering.

X-ray free-electron laser based dark-field X-ray microscopy: a simulation-based study

Dark-field X-ray microscopy (DFXM) is a nondestructive full-field imaging technique providing three-dimensional mapping of microstructure and local strain fields in deeply embedded crystalline elements. This is achieved by placing an objective lens in the diffracted beam, giving a magnified projection image. So far, the method has been applied with a time resolution of milliseconds to hours. In this work, the feasibility of DFXM at the picosecond time scale using an X-ray free-electron laser source and a pump–probe scheme is considered. Thermomechanical strain-wave simulations are combined with geometrical optics and wavefront propagation optics to simulate DFXM images of phonon dynamics in a diamond single crystal. Using the specifications of the XCS instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source as an example results in simulated DFXM images clearly showing the propagation of a strain wave.

Holey Substrate-Directed Strain Patterning in Bilayer MoS2

Key properties of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials are highly strain tunable, arising from bond modulation and associated reconfiguration of the energy bands around the Fermi level. Approaches to locally controlling and patterning strain have included both active and passive elastic deformation via sustained loading and templating with nanostructures. Here, by float-capturing ultrathin flakes of single-crystal 2H-MoS₂ on amorphous holey silicon nitride substrates, we find that highly symmetric, high-fidelity strain patterns are formed. The hexagonally arranged holes and surface topography combine to generate highly conformal flake-substrate coverage creating patterns that match optimal centroidal Voronoi tessellation in 2D Euclidean space. Using TEM imaging and diffraction, as well as AFM topographic mapping, we determine that the substrate-driven 3D geometry of the flakes over the holes consists of symmetric, out-of-plane bowl-like deformation of up to 35 nm, with in-plane, isotropic tensile strains of up to 1.8% (measured with both selected-area diffraction and AFM). Atomistic and image simulations accurately predict spontaneous formation of the strain patterns, with van der Waals forces and substrate topography as the input parameters. These results show that predictable patterns and 3D topography can be spontaneously induced in 2D materials captured on bare, holey substrates. The method also enables electron scattering studies of precisely aligned, substrate-free strained regions in transmission mode.

Cathodoluminescence in Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

Implementing the modern technologies of light-emitting devices, light harvesting, and quantum information processing requires the understanding of the structure-function relations at spatial scales below the optical diffraction limit and time scales of energy and information flows. Here, we distinctively combine cathodoluminescence (CL) with ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM), termed CL-UEM, because CL and UEM synergetically afford the required spectral and spatiotemporal sensitivities, respectively. For color centers in nanodiamonds, we demonstrate the measurement of CL lifetime with a local sensitivity of 50 nm and a time resolution of 100 ps. It is revealed that the emitting states of the color centers can be populated through charge transfer among the color centers across diamond lattices upon high-energy electron beam excitation. The technical advance achieved in this study will facilitate the specific control over energy conversion at nanoscales, relevant to quantum dots and single-photon sources.

Integrated photonics enables continuous-beam electron phase modulation

Integrated photonics facilitates extensive control over fundamental light-matter interactions in manifold quantum systems including atoms1, trapped ions2,3, quantum dots4 and defect centres5. Ultrafast electron microscopy has recently made free-electron beams the subject of laser-based quantum manipulation and characterization6-11, enabling the observation of free-electron quantum walks12-14, attosecond electron pulses10,15-17 and holographic electromagnetic imaging18. Chip-based photonics19,20 promises unique applications in nanoscale quantum control and sensing but remains to be realized in electron microscopy. Here we merge integrated photonics with electron microscopy, demonstrating coherent phase modulation of a continuous electron beam using a silicon nitride microresonator. The high-finesse (Q0 ≈ 106) cavity enhancement and a waveguide designed for phase matching lead to efficient electron-light scattering at extremely low, continuous-wave optical powers. Specifically, we fully deplete the initial electron state at a cavity-coupled power of only 5.35 microwatts and generate >500 electron energy sidebands for several milliwatts. Moreover, we probe unidirectional intracavity fields with microelectronvolt resolution in electron-energy-gain spectroscopy21. The fibre-coupled photonic structures feature single-optical-mode electron-light interaction with full control over the input and output light. This approach establishes a versatile and highly efficient framework for enhanced electron beam control in the context of laser phase plates22, beam modulators and continuous-wave attosecond pulse trains23, resonantly enhanced spectroscopy24-26 and dielectric laser acceleration19,20,27. Our work introduces a universal platform for exploring free-electron quantum optics28-31, with potential future developments in strong coupling, local quantum probing and electron-photon entanglement.

Spatiotemporal observation of light propagation in a three-dimensional scattering medium

Spatiotemporal information about light pulse propagation obtained with femtosecond temporal resolution plays an important role in understanding transient phenomena and light–matter interactions. Although ultrafast optical imaging techniques have been developed, it is still difficult to capture light pulse propagation spatiotemporally. Furthermore, imaging through a three-dimensional (3-D) scattering medium is a longstanding challenge due to the optical scattering caused by the interaction between light pulse and a 3-D scattering medium. Here, we propose a technique for ultrafast optical imaging of light pulses propagating inside a 3D scattering medium. We record an image of the light pulse propagation using the ultrashort light pulse even when the interaction between light pulse and a 3-D scattering medium causes the optical scattering. We demonstrated our proposed technique by recording converging, refracted, and diffracted propagating light for 59 ps with femtosecond temporal resolution.

Toward Å-fs-meV resolution in electron microscopy: systematic simulation of the temporal spread of single-electron packets

Though efforts to improve the temporal resolution of transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) have waxed and waned for decades, with relatively recent advances routinely reaching sub-picosecond scales, fundamental and practical challenges have hindered the advance of combined Å-fs-meV resolutions, particularly for core-loss spectroscopy and real-space imaging. This is due in no small part to the complexity of the approach required to access timescales upon which electrons, atoms, molecules, and materials first begin to respond and transform - attoseconds to picoseconds. Here we present part of a larger effort devoted to systematically mapping the instrument parameter space of a TEM modified to reach ultrafast timescales. With General Particle Tracer, we studied the statistical temporal distributions of single-electron packets as a function of various fs pulsed-laser parameters and electron-gun configurations and fields for the exact architecture and dimensions of a Thermo Fisher Tecnai Femto ultrafast electron microscope. We focused on easily-adjustable parameters, such as laser pulse duration, laser spot size, photon energy, Wehnelt aperture diameter, and photocathode size. In addition to establishing trends and dispersion behaviors, we identify regimes within which packet duration can be 100s of fs and approach the 300 fs laser limit employed here. Overall, the results provide a detailed picture of the temporal behavior of single-electron packets in the Tecnai Femto gun region, forming the initial contribution of a larger effort.

A versatile sample fabrication method for ultrafast electron diffraction

Integral to the exploration of nonequilibrium phenomena in solid-state systems is the study of lattice motion after photoexcitation by a femtosecond laser pulse. For the past two decades, ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) has played a critical role in this regard. Despite remarkable progress in instrumental development, this technique is still bottlenecked by a demanding sample preparation process, where ultrathin single crystals of large lateral size are typically required. In this work, we describe an efficient, versatile method that yields high-quality, laterally extended (≥ 100 µm), and thin (≤ 50 nm) single crystals on amorphous films of Si₃N₄ windows. It applies to most exfoliable materials, including those reactive in ambient conditions, and promises clean, flat surfaces. Besides the natural extension to fabricating van der Waals heterostructures, our method can also be applied to future-generation UED that enables additional control of sample parameters, such as electrostatic gating and excitation by a locally enhanced terahertz field. Our work significantly expands the type of samples for UED studies and also finds application in other time-resolved techniques such as attosecond extreme-ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. This method hence provides further opportunities to explore photoinduced transitions and to discover novel states of matter out of equilibrium.

Imaging Nanometer Phonon Softening at Crystal Surface Steps with 4D Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

Step edges are an important and prevalent topological feature that influence catalytic, electronic, vibrational, and structural properties arising from modulation of atomic-scale force fields due to edge-atom relaxation. Direct probing of ultrafast atomic-to-nanoscale lattice dynamics at individual steps poses a particularly significant challenge owing to demanding spatiotemporal resolution requirements. Here, we achieve such resolutions with femtosecond 4D ultrafast electron microscopy and directly image nanometer-variant softening of photoexcited phonons at individual surface steps. We find large degrees of softening precisely at the step position, with a thickness-dependent, strain-induced frequency modulation extending tens of nanometers laterally from the atomic-scale discontinuity. The effect originates from anisotropic bond dilation and photoinduced incoherent atomic displacements delineated by abrupt molecular-layer cessation. The magnitude and spatiotemporal extent of softening is quantitatively described with a finite-element transient-deformation model. The high spatiotemporal resolutions demonstrated here enable uncovering of new insights into atomic-scale structure-function relationships of highly defect-sensitive, functional materials.

Coherent Phonon Disruption and Lock-In during a Photoinduced Charge-Density-Wave Phase Transition

Ultrafast manipulation of phase domains in quantum materials is a promising approach to unraveling and harnessing interwoven charge and lattice degrees of freedom. Here we find evidence for coupling of displacively excited coherent acoustic phonons (CAPs) and periodic lattice distortions (PLDs) in the intensely studied charge-density-wave material, 1T-TaS₂, using 4D ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM). Initial photoinduced Bragg-peak dynamics reveal partial CAP coherence and localized c-axis dilations. Weak, partially coherent dynamics give way to higher-amplitude, increasingly coherent oscillations, the transition period of which matches that of photoinduced incommensurate domain growth and stabilization from the nearly-commensurate phase. With UEM imaging, it is found that phonon wave trains emerge from linear defects 100 ps after photoexcitation. The CAPs consist of coupled longitudinal and transverse character and propagate at anomalously high velocities along wave vectors independent from PLDs, instead being dictated by defect orientation. Such behaviors illustrate a means to control phases in quantum materials using defect-engineered coherent-phonon seeding.

Spatiotemporal imaging of 2D polariton wave packet dynamics using free electrons

Coherent optical excitations in two-dimensional (2D) materials, 2D polaritons, can generate a plethora of optical phenomena that arise from the extraordinary dispersion relations that do not exist in regular materials. Probing of the dynamical phenomena of 2D polaritons requires simultaneous spatial and temporal imaging capabilities and could reveal unknown coherent optical phenomena in 2D materials. Here, we present a spatiotemporal measurement of 2D wave packet dynamics, from its formation to its decay, using an ultrafast transmission electron microscope driven by femtosecond midinfrared pulses. The ability to coherently excite phonon-polariton wave packets and probe their evolution in a nondestructive manner reveals intriguing dispersion-dependent dynamics that includes splitting of multibranch wave packets and, unexpectedly, wave packet deceleration and acceleration. Having access to the full spatiotemporal dynamics of 2D wave packets can be used to illuminate puzzles in topological polaritons and discover exotic nonlinear optical phenomena in 2D materials.

Finite-element simulation of photoinduced strain dynamics in silicon thin plates

In this paper, we investigate the femtosecond-optical-pulse-induced strain dynamics in relatively thin (100 nm) and thick (10 000 nm) silicon plates based on finite-element simulations. In the thin sample, almost spatially homogeneous excitation by the optical pulse predominantly generates a standing wave of the lowest-order acoustic resonance mode along the out-of-plane direction. At the same time, laterally propagating plate waves are emitted at the sample edge through the open edge deformation. Fourier transformation analysis reveals that the plate waves in the thin sample are mainly composed of two symmetric Lamb waves, reflecting the spatially uniform photoexcitation. In the thick sample, on the other hand, only the near surface region is photo-excited and thus a strain pulse that propagates along the out-of-plane direction is generated, accompanying the laterally propagating pulse-like strain dynamics through the edge deformation. These lateral strain pulses consist of multiple Lamb waves, including asymmetric and higher-order symmetric modes. Our simulations quantitatively demonstrate the out-of-plane and in-plane photoinduced strain dynamics in realistic silicon plates, ranging from the plate wave form to pulse trains, depending on material parameters such as sample thickness, optical penetration depth, and sound velocity.

Time-Domain Investigations of Coherent Phonons in van der Waals Thin Films

Coherent phonons can be launched in materials upon localized pulsed optical excitation, and be subsequently followed in time-domain, with a sub-picosecond resolution, using a time-delayed pulsed probe. This technique yields characterization of mechanical, optical, and electronic properties at the nanoscale, and is taken advantage of for investigations in material science, physics, chemistry, and biology. Here we review the use of this experimental method applied to the emerging field of homo- and heterostructures of van der Waals materials. Their unique structure corresponding to non-covalently stacked atomically thin layers allows for the study of original structural configurations, down to one-atom-thin films free of interface defect. The generation and relaxation of coherent optical phonons, as well as propagative and resonant breathing acoustic phonons, are comprehensively discussed. This approach opens new avenues for the in situ characterization of these novel materials, the observation and modulation of exotic phenomena, and advances in the field of acoustics microscopy.

High-resolution analogue of time-domain phonon spectroscopy in the transmission electron microscope

Femtosecond photoexcitation of semiconducting materials leads to the generation of coherent acoustic phonons (CAPs), the behaviours of which are linked to intrinsic and engineered electronic, optical and structural properties. While often studied with pump-probe spectroscopic techniques, the influence of nanoscale structure and morphology on CAP dynamics can be challenging to resolve with these all-optical methods. Here, we used ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) to resolve variations in CAP dynamics caused by differences in the degree of crystallinity in as-prepared and annealed GaAs lamellae. Following in situ femtosecond photoexcitation, we directly imaged the generation and propagation dynamics of hypersonic CAPs in a mostly amorphous and, following an in situ photothermal anneal, a mostly crystalline lamella. Subtle differences in both the initial hypersonic velocities and the asymptotic relaxation behaviours were resolved via construction of space-time contour plots from phonon wavefronts. Comparison to bulk sound velocities in crystalline and amorphous GaAs reveals the influence of the mixed amorphous-crystalline morphology on CAP dispersion behaviours. Further, an increase in the asymptotic velocity following annealing establishes the sensitivity of quantitative UEM imaging to both structural and compositional variations through differences in bonding and elasticity. Implications of extending the methods and results reported here to elucidating correlated electronic, optical and structural behaviours in semiconducting materials are discussed. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Dynamic in situ microscopy relating structure and function'.

Light-Induced Anisotropic Morphological Dynamics of Black Phosphorus Membranes Visualized by Dark-Field Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

Black phosphorus (BP) is an elemental layered material with a strong in-plane anisotropic structure. This structure is accompanied by anisotropic optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Despite interest in BP from both fundamental and technical aspects, investigation into the structural dynamics of BP caused by strain fields, which are prevalent for two-dimensional (2D) materials and tune the material physical properties, has been overlooked. Here, we report the morphological dynamics of photoexcited BP membranes observed using time-resolved diffractograms and dark-field images obtained via ultrafast electron microscopy. Aided by 4D reconstruction, we visualize the nonequilibrium bulging of thin BP membranes and reveal that the buckling transition is driven by impulsive thermal stress upon photoexcitation in real time. The bulging, buckling, and flattening (on strain release) showed anisotropic spatiotemporal behavior. Our observations offer insights into the fleeting morphology of anisotropic 2D matter and provide a glimpse into the mapping of transient, modulated physical properties upon impulsive excitation, as well as strain engineering at the nanoscale.

Nanoscale Imaging of Unusual Photoacoustic Waves in Thin Flake VTe2

The control of acoustic phonons, which are the carriers of sound and heat, has become the focus of increasing attention because of a demand for manipulating the sonic and thermal properties of nanometric devices. In particular, the photoacoustic effect using ultrafast optical pulses has a promising potential for the optical manipulation of phonons in the picosecond time regime. So far, its mechanism has been mostly based on the commonplace thermoelastic expansion in isotropic media, which has limited applicability. In this study, we investigate a conceptually new mechanism of the photoacoustic effect involving a structural instability that utilizes a transition-metal dichalcogenide VTe₂ with a ribbon-type charge-density-wave (CDW). Ultrafast electron microscope imaging and diffraction measurements reveal the generation and propagation of unusual acoustic waves in a nanometric thin plate associated with optically induced instantaneous CDW dissolution. Our results highlight the capability of photoinduced structural instabilities as a source of coherent acoustic waves.

Transient lensing from a photoemitted electron gas imaged by ultrafast electron microscopy

Understanding and controlling ultrafast charge carrier dynamics is of fundamental importance in diverse fields of (quantum) science and technology. Here, we create a three-dimensional hot electron gas through two-photon photoemission from a copper surface in vacuum. We employ an ultrafast electron microscope to record movies of the subsequent electron dynamics on the picosecond-nanosecond time scale. After a prompt Coulomb explosion, the subsequent dynamics is characterized by a rapid oblate-to-prolate shape transformation of the electron gas, and periodic and long-lived electron cyclotron oscillations inside the magnetic field of the objective lens. In this regime, the collective behavior of the oscillating electrons causes a transient, mean-field lensing effect and pronounced distortions in the images. We derive an analytical expression for the time-dependent focal length of the electron-gas lens, and perform numerical electron dynamics and probe image simulations to determine the role of Coulomb self-fields and image charges. This work inspires the visualization of cyclotron dynamics inside two-dimensional electron-gas materials and enables the elucidation of electron/plasma dynamics and properties that could benefit the development of high-brightness electron and X-ray sources.

The Development of Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

Time-resolved electron microscopy is based on the excitation of a sample by pulsed laser radiation and its probing by synchronized photoelectron bunches in the electron microscope column. With femtosecond lasers, if probing pulses with a small number of electrons—in the limit, single-electron wave packets—are used, the stroboscopic regime enables ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolution to be obtained, which is not restricted by the Coulomb repulsion of electrons. This review article presents the current state of the ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) method for detecting the structural dynamics of matter in the time range from picoseconds to attoseconds. Moreover, in the imaging mode, the spatial resolution lies, at best, in the subnanometer range, which limits the range of observation of structural changes in the sample. The ultrafast electron diffraction (UED), which created the methodological basis for the development of UEM, has opened the possibility of creating molecular movies that show the behavior of the investigated quantum system in the space-time continuum with details of sub-Å spatial resolution. Therefore, this review on the development of UEM begins with a description of the main achievements of UED, which formed the basis for the creation and further development of the UEM method. A number of recent experiments are presented to illustrate the potential of the UEM method.

Imaging Beam-Sensitive Materials by Electron Microscopy

Electron microscopy allows the extraction of multidimensional spatiotemporally correlated structural information of diverse materials down to atomic resolution, which is essential for figuring out their structure-property relationships. Unfortunately, the high-energy electrons that carry this important information can cause damage by modulating the structures of the materials. This has become a significant problem concerning the recent boost in materials science applications of a wide range of beam-sensitive materials, including metal-organic frameworks, covalent-organic frameworks, organic-inorganic hybrid materials, 2D materials, and zeolites. To this end, developing electron microscopy techniques that minimize the electron beam damage for the extraction of intrinsic structural information turns out to be a compelling but challenging need. This article provides a comprehensive review on the revolutionary strategies toward the electron microscopic imaging of beam-sensitive materials and associated materials science discoveries, based on the principles of electron-matter interaction and mechanisms of electron beam damage. Finally, perspectives and future trends in this field are put forward.

Imaging phonon dynamics with ultrafast electron microscopy: Kinematical and dynamical simulations

Ultrafast x-ray and electron scattering techniques have proven to be useful for probing the transient elastic lattice deformations associated with photoexcited coherent acoustic phonons. Indeed, femtosecond electron imaging using an ultrafast electron microscope (UEM) has been used to directly image the influence of nanoscale structural and morphological discontinuities on the emergence, propagation, dispersion, and decay behaviors in a variety of materials. Here, we describe our progress toward the development of methods ultimately aimed at quantifying acoustic-phonon properties from real-space UEM images via conventional image simulation methods extended to the associated strain-wave lattice deformation symmetries and extents. Using a model system consisting of pristine single-crystal Ge and a single, symmetric Lamb-type guided-wave mode, we calculate the transient strain profiles excited in a wedge specimen and then apply both kinematical- and dynamical-scattering methods to simulate the resulting UEM bright-field images. While measurable contrast strengths arising from the phonon wavetrains are found for optimally oriented specimens using both approaches, incorporation of dynamical scattering effects via a multi-slice method returns better qualitative agreement with experimental observations. Contrast strengths arising solely from phonon-induced local lattice deformations are increased by nearly an order of magnitude when incorporating multiple electron scattering effects. We also explicitly demonstrate the effects of changes in global specimen orientation on the observed contrast strength, and we discuss the implications for increasing the sophistication of the model with respect to quantification of phonon properties from UEM images.

Influence of Discrete Defects on Observed Acoustic-Phonon Dynamics in Layered Materials Probed with Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

The structural anisotropy of layered materials leads to disparate lattice responses along different crystallographic directions following femtosecond photoexcitation. Ultrafast scattering methods are well-suited to resolving such responses, though probe size and specimen structure and morphology must be considered when interpreting results. Here we use ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) imaging and diffraction to study the influence of individual multilayer terraces and few-layer step-edges on acoustic-phonon dynamics in 1T-TaS₂ and 2H-MoS₂. In TaS₂, we find that a multilayer terrace produces distinct, localized responses arising from thickness-dependent c-axis phonon dynamics. Convolution of the responses is demonstrated with ultrafast selected-area diffraction by limiting the probe size and training it on the region of interest. This results in a reciprocal-space frequency response that is a convolution of the spatially separated behaviors. Sensitivity of phonon dynamics to few-layer step-edges in MoS₂ and the capability of UEM imaging to resolve the influence of such defects are also demonstrated. Spatial frequency maps from the UEM image series reveal regions separated by a four-layer step-edge having 60.0 GHz and 63.3 GHz oscillation frequencies, again linked to c-axis phonon propagation. As with ultrafast diffraction, signal convolution is demonstrated by continuous increase of the size of the selected region of interest used in the analysis.

Observation of Anisotropic Strain-Wave Dynamics and Few-Layer Dephasing in MoS2 with Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

The large elastic strains that can be sustained by transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and the sensitivity of electronic properties to that strain, make these materials attractive targets for tunable optoelectronic devices. Defects have also been shown to influence the optical and electronic properties, characteristics that are especially important to understand for applications requiring high precision and sensitivity. Importantly, photoexcitation of TMDs is known to generate transient strain effects but the associated intralayer and interlayer low-frequency (tens of GHz) acoustic-phonon modes are largely unexplored, especially in relation to defects common to such materials. Here, with femtosecond electron imaging in an ultrafast electron microscope (UEM), we directly observe distinct photoexcited strain-wave dynamics specific to both the ab basal planes and the principal c-axis crystallographic stacking direction in multilayer 2H-MoS₂, and we elucidate the microscopic interconnectedness of these modes to one another and to discrete defects, such as few-layer crystal step edges. By probing 3D structural information within a nanometer-picosecond 2D projected UEM image series, we were able to observe the excitation and evolution of both modes simultaneously. In this way, we found evidence of a delay between mode excitations; initiation of the interlayer (c-axis) strain-wave mode precedes the intralayer (ab plane) mode by 2.4 ps. Further, the intralayer mode is preferentially excited at free basal-plane edges, thus suggesting the initial impulsive structural changes along the c-axis direction and the increased freedom of motion of the MoS₂ layer edges at terraces and step edges combine to launch in-plane strain waves at the longitudinal speed of sound (here observed to be 7.8 nm/ps). Sensitivity of the c-axis mode to layer number is observed through direct imaging of a picosecond spatiotemporal dephasing of the lattice oscillation in discrete crystal regions separated by a step edge consisting of four MoS₂ layers. These results uncover new insights into the fundamental nanoscale structural responses of layered materials to ultrafast photoexcitation and illustrate the influence defects common to these materials have on behaviors that may impact the emergent optoelectronic properties.

Design and characterization of dielectric filled TM110 microwave cavities for ultrafast electron microscopy

Microwave cavities oscillating in the TM₁₁₀ mode can be used as dynamic electron-optical elements inside an electron microscope. By filling the cavity with a dielectric material, it becomes more compact and power efficient, facilitating the implementation in an electron microscope. However, the incorporation of the dielectric material makes the manufacturing process more difficult. Presented here are the steps taken to characterize the dielectric material and to reproducibly fabricate dielectric filled cavities. Also presented are two versions with improved capabilities. The first, called a dual-mode cavity, is designed to support two modes simultaneously. The second has been optimized for low power consumption. With this optimized cavity, a magnetic field strength of 2.84 ± 0.07 mT was generated at an input power of 14.2 ± 0.2 W. Due to the low input powers and small dimensions, these dielectric cavities are ideal as electron-optical elements for electron microscopy setups.

Coulomb interactions in high-coherence femtosecond electron pulses from tip emitters

Tip-based photoemission electron sources offer unique properties for ultrafast imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopy experiments with highly coherent few-electron pulses. Extending this approach to increased bunch-charges requires a comprehensive experimental study on Coulomb interactions in nanoscale electron pulses and their impact on beam quality. For a laser-driven Schottky field emitter, we assess the transverse and longitudinal electron pulse properties in an ultrafast transmission electron microscope at a high photoemission current density. A quantitative characterization of electron beam emittance, pulse duration, spectral bandwidth, and chirp is performed. Due to the cathode geometry, Coulomb interactions in the pulse predominantly occur in the direct vicinity to the tip apex, resulting in a well-defined pulse chirp and limited emittance growth. Strategies for optimizing electron source parameters are identified, enabling advanced ultrafast transmission electron microscopy approaches, such as phase-resolved imaging and holography.

Ultrafast measurements of the dynamics of single nanostructures: a review

The ability to study single particles has revolutionized nanoscience. The advantage of single particle spectroscopy measurements compared to conventional ensemble studies is that they remove averaging effects from the different sizes and shapes that are present in the samples. In time-resolved experiments this is important for unraveling homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening effects in lifetime measurements. In this report, recent progress in the development of ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopic techniques for interrogating single nanostructures will be discussed. The techniques include far-field experiments that utilize high numerical aperture (NA) microscope objectives, near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) measurements, ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM), and time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiments. Examples will be given of the application of these techniques to studying energy relaxation processes in nanoparticles, and the motion of plasmons, excitons and/or charge carriers in different types of nanostructures.

Sources of error in Debye-Waller-effect measurements relevant to studies of photoinduced structural dynamics

We identify and quantify several practical effects likely to be present in both static and ultrafast electron-scattering experiments that may interfere with the Debye-Waller (DW) effect. Using 120-nm thick, small-grained, polycrystalline aluminum foils as a test system, we illustrate the impact of specimen tilting, in-plane translation, and changes in z height on Debye-Scherrer-ring intensities. We find that tilting by less than one degree can result in statistically-significant changes in diffracted-beam intensities for large specimen regions containing > 10⁵ nanocrystalline grains. We demonstrate that, in addition to effective changes in the field of view with tilting, slight texturing of the film can result in deviations from expected DW-effect behavior. Further, we find that in-plane translations of as little as 20 nm also produce statistically-significant intensity changes, while normalization to total image counts eliminates such effects arising from changes in z height. The results indicate that the use of polycrystalline films in ultrafast electron-scattering experiments can greatly reduce the negative impacts of these effects as compared to single-crystal specimens, though it does not entirely eliminate them. Thus, it is important to account for such effects when studying thin-foil specimens having relatively short reciprocal-lattice rods.