A simple theory for dynamical electron diffraction in crystals

Abstract A simple but sufficiently accurate expression is obtained for the exit wave of high energy diffracting electrons at a crystal in zone axis orientation. The exit wave at each atomic column can be parametrised with only one parameter, which is a function of the projected “weight” of the column. This result allows us to speed up the calculations enormously and make accurate quantitative structure refinements using electron diffraction and/or high resolution images feasible.