A simple method for the determination of structure-factor phase relationships and crystal polarity using electron diffraction

Multiple electron scattering between weak beams has been used as the basis for a simple method to determine the absolute polarity of some non-centrosymmetric crystals. For crystals with the sphalerite structure many orientations have been found in which small departures from centrosymmetry produce large effects on the convergent-beam diffraction patterns (microdiffraction). The effects are reasonably independent of thickness and so can be analyzed qualitatively without the use of computers.