TEM-EELS: A personal perspective

The development of electron energy-loss spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope (TEM-EELS) is illustrated through personal anecdote, highlighting some of the basic principles, instrumentation and personalities involved. The current state of the art is reviewed, together with some challenges for the future.

► The history of EELS instrumentation is reviewed in a lighthearted manner.
► The current state of the art is summarized, together with some future possibilities.
► A couple of related mathematical puzzles are offered as a challenge to the reader.