The Hitachi S-570 Scanning Electron Microscope is equipped with a lanthanum hexaboride (LAB6) electron gun. The SEM has been converted to a digital acquisition system, the 4Pi Spectral Engine II, which provides digital images, EDS analysis, and x-ray compositional mapping. Images are available in the magnification range 15x to 200,000x. Images are acquired using secondary electrons for topographic images or backscattered electrons to illustrate compositional differences in the surface. EDS analysis is available for all elements Z=6 (carbon) and above.

photo by Samuel O'Keefe