Structural phase and amplitude measurement from distances in convergent-beam electron diffraction patterns

The structure of a periodic object, such as a crystal, may be described by an infinite series of Fourier coefficients and phases. In associating this with scattering theory appropriate to any radiation, a classic problem arises, namely, the determination of phases from the resulting discrete diffraction pattern. The solution to this phase problem is presented in this paper in which the first direct measurement of structural phase by inspection of convergent-beam electron diffraction patterns is described.