Characterization of detector modulation-transfer function with noise, edge, and holographic methods

• Introduces holographic method to measure modulation-transfer function (MTF).
• Incomplete read-out found to affect gain reference normalization.
• Low-frequency incomplete read-out artifacts found to affect MTF normalization.
• Practical guidance for detector impact on microscope optimization.

We developed a new method for characterization of detector performance used in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) based on the measured contrast of holographic fringes. The new method changes spatial frequency of the measured holographic fringes, generated by an electrostatic biprism and Schottky or cold field-emission gun, to sample the modulation-transfer function (MTF) of the detector. The MTF of a Gatan Ultrascan™ 1000 charged-coupled detector (CCD) is evaluated using the new method and the results are compared to the established noise and slanted-edge method results. Requirements for accuracy of the edge and noise MTF methods are discussed. We consider issues surrounding incomplete read-out and how it affects the gain reference normalization of the detector. We evaluate how the MTF affects optimization of experimental parameters in the TEM.