Science cannot advance without new methods. This is why we dedicate a lot of effort to the develop new instrumentation. In our lab, we have modified two transmission electron microscopes for time-resolved experiments, each tailored to specific experiments. A mirror installed above the upper pole piece of the objective lens directs a laser pulse to the sample, which serves to initiate dynamics (pump). A second laser pulse is then used to illuminate the electron emitter and generate a short electron pulse, which serves to image (probe) the sample at a precise point in time. Both microscopes are equipped with multiple laser systems, which allow us to observe nanoscale processes over a range of timescales, from femtoseconds to seconds.
Related publications:
Overcoming Preferred Orientation in Cryo-EM With Ultrasonic Excitation During Vitrification
H. M. Williams, W. A. Curtis, M. Haubner, J. Hruby, M. Drabbels, U. J. Lorenz. Biorxiv preprint (2025)
Cryo-EM Sample Preparation with Soft-Landing and Laser Flash Melting
S. V. Barrass, T. K. Esser, N. J. Mowry, L. Eriksson, J. Hruby, L. T. Seeley, W. A. Curtis, L. A. Baker, M. Drabbels, S. Rauschenbach, U. J. Lorenz. Biorxiv preprint (2025)
Ultrathin Liquid Cells for Microsecond Time-resolved Cryo-EM
W. A. Curtis, J. Hruby, C. R. Krüger, S. V. Barrass, M. Drabbels, U. J. Lorenz. Biorxiv preprint (2025)
Microsecond melting and revitrification of cryo samples with a correlative light-electron microscopy approach
G. Bongiovanni, O.F. Harder, M. Drabbels, U.J. Lorenz. Front. Mol. Biosci. 9, 1044509 (2022)
Atomic-Resolution Imaging of Fast Nanoscale Dynamics with Bright Electron Pulses
P.K. Olshin, G. Bongiovanni, M. Drabbels, U.J. Lorenz. Nano Lett. 21, 612–618 (2021)
Characterization of a Time-Resolved Electron Microscope with a Schottky Field Emission Gun
P.K. Olshin, M. Drabbels, U.J. Lorenz. Struct. Dyn. 7, 054304 (2020)
Intense microsecond electron pulses from a Schottky emitter
G. Bongiovanni, P.K. Olshin, M. Drabbels, U.J. Lorenz. Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 234103 (2020)