The present volume originated with a suggestion from Bernie Breton that the research students working on the scanning electron microscope in the Cambridge University Engineering Department during the 1950s under the supervision of Charles Oatley should each write a personal account of their experiences. From subsequent discussions it became clear that the ramifications of this early work made a much broader approach desirable. In particular, the experiences of those engaged in the parallel development of the scanning X-ray microanalyser at the Cavendish Laboratory, and the subsequent commercial exploitation of both instruments by the Cambridge Instrument Company, needed to be recorded if the story was to be complete. As a consequence, the work has expanded considerably from its original concept: it now embraces accounts of the early instrumental research and development undertaken in the University, at the Tube Investments Research Laboratory and at the Cambridge Instrument Company. It also covers many of the subsequent developments that have emerged over the past half-century at the Engineering Department and at the Cambridge Instrument Company. These accounts are accompanied in some cases by reproductions of papers published at the time or excerpts from such papers. Supplementary material, particularly concerning later developments, are to be found on the Cambridge University Engineering Department website (www.eng.cam.ac.uk/to/oatley), which has been established to coincide with the publication of this volume.

 

With regret the Editors have to record that some of those who had intended to contribute have been prevented from doing so by ill health or death. Bill Nixon suffered a stroke with consequent impairment of faculties, and Jim Long died in February 2003 [Obituary: Mineral. Mag.67, 592-3 (2003), by Stephen Reed]. In their place, Peter Duncumb introduces papers published by them describing their early work in the Cavendish Laboratory on, respectively, X-ray projection microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Nixon’s later work on the SEM is described in several supporting papers by his colleagues. The pioneering work on scanning electron diffraction undertaken by Chris Grigson, who died in February 2001 [Obituary: The Independent, 25 April 2001, by Sir Douglas Faulkner], is surveyed by Dennis McMullan. Gary Stewart has been unable to contribute, but his work on ion beam etching in the SEM and later work on the Cambridge Stereoscan is represented by contributions from Alan Boyde, Mike Snelling and others.

 

In approaching potential contributors to this volume it was stressed that the Editors were not looking merely for a repetition of technical work already published but rather for personal accounts of how contributors came to be involved in the subject, the difficulties they encountered, the people they worked with, the failures as well as the successes. Those who worked with Charles Oatley or who had occasion to meet him, were asked to provide any interesting and relevant reminiscences. Thanks are due to everyone who took up this wide-ranging and challenging brief, which has inevitably produced a great variety of responses. It is hoped that readers will agree that, as a result, a broad picture has emerged of the beginnings of modern scanning electron microscopy and of the man who initiated it.

 

Finally, the Guest Editors wish to thank Peter Hawkes for his help and encouragement in the preparation of this volume, Professor Tom Mulvey for his valuable comments, Oliver Wells for his helpful suggestions concerning the structure and content of the volume, and Sheila Smith for reading and commenting on all of the manuscripts.

 

Bernie Breton

Dennis McMullan

Ken Smith