Holography generally includes a source of illuminating waves (light, electrons, etc.), an object to be imaged, and a detector or film in which waves direct from the source interfere with waves scattered from parts of the object. The interference pattern, stored in the detector medium, is later read out (and a 3D image of the object viewed) by sending waves into the detector.

Holograms with neutrons are different; rather than scattering from the electrons in the atoms of the sample, neutrons scatter only from nuclei, which are 100,000 times smaller than the atoms in which they reside. This is important when it comes time to reconstruct an image of the interior of a crystal lattice.

Neutron holography with atomic-scale resolution has been performed, for the first time, with an "inside-detector" approach.  Shown here is a 35nm x 35nm holographic image of lead nuclei in a Pb(Cd) single crystal.  The 12 Pd atoms in the crystal lattice are clearly seen.  This may become a very useful technique for detecting certain atoms in solid materials.

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