Theory of magnon diffuse scattering in scanning transmission electron microscopy

We present a theory and a simulation of diffuse scattering due to the excitation of magnons in scanning transmission electron microscopy. The calculations indicate that magnons can present atomic contrast when detected by electron energy-loss spectroscopy using atomic-size electron beams. The results presented here indicate that the intensity of the magnon diffuse scattering in bcc iron at 300 K is 4 orders of magnitude weaker than the intensity of thermal diffuse scattering arising from atomic vibrations.