Autoradiography with the electron microscope: differential sensitivity of photographic emulsions for tritium

The sensitivity of the photographic emulsion is an important factor in the resolution of autoradiographs at the electron microscopic level. In a number of recent publications, single hit processes have been considered sufficient for the production of developable latent images by tritium electrons. However, since the absorbed energy required or latent image formation in AgBr crystals of commercially available emulsions is of the order of 800 eV, onIy low energy tritium electrons (up to 3 keV) will produce latent images by single hit processes in small AgBr crystals of about 400 A diameter. In emulsions with larger AgBr crystals (about 1000 A diameter), electrons with an energy of up to about 6 keV can be regisiered by single hit processes. Evidently, latent image formation may also result from multiple hits by electrons of higher energy. Since the energy absorption required for latent image formation is constant, the sensitivity of photographic emulsions must be considered proportional to the diameter of the respective AgBr crystals, unless methods become available for specific sensitization of emulsions with small AgBr crystals