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A combined freeze chamber and low temperature stage for an electron microscope
Author(s) -
Valdrè U.,
Horne R. W.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1975.tb03987.x
Subject(s) - liquid nitrogen , microscope , electron microscope , stage (stratigraphy) , materials science , scanning electron microscope , resolution (logic) , analytical chemistry (journal) , optics , composite material , chemistry , chromatography , physics , paleontology , organic chemistry , artificial intelligence , computer science , biology
SUMMARY A low‐temperature freeze‐drying or freezing preparation chamber and specimen stage has been designed and constructed for use with an electron microscope. The system allows biological specimens to be prepared under conditions of temperature and pressure and their subsequent direct transfer to a cold stage maintained at — 175°C within the microscope. Attachment of both the chamber and stage is a simple procedure and does not interfere with the normal electrical and mechanical operation of the microscope. The stage is cooled with the aid of a liquid nitrogen reservoir system and can be maintained at — 175°C for about 80 min without the use of any continuous cooling system. Test specimens have shown that a resolution of about 1.0–1.5 nm can be maintained at — 175°C for 80 min once thermal equilibrium has been established.