High resolution test specimen gold particles on carbon film

An arrangement of finely dispersed thin gold particles has an advantage over single crystal gold foil for tests of high resolution imaging capabilities in TEM. As with gold foil, image quality, magnification and instrumental stability are readily assessed, however, this gold particle specimen is superior for the determination of resolution capabilities since it offers a choice of crystalline orientations on static or low tilt stages. In addition, the thickness of the crystalline material is easily calculated from the projected shape of the gold crystal. The background noise arising from structure in the support film helps with determinations of the operating transfer function.