The contrast-to-noise ratio for image quality evaluation in scanning electron microscopy

Summary The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) is presented and characterized as a tool for quantitative noise measurement of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Analogies as well as differences between the CNR and the widely used signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are analytically and experimentally investigated. With respect to practical SEM image evaluation using the contrast-to-noise ratio, a standard specimen and an evaluation program are presented. SCANNING 37:54–62, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.