Scanning Photoemission Spectromicroscopy of Neurons

Photoemission spectroscopy now reaches a lateral resolution in the submicrometer range. It is possible, therefore, to perform chemical analysis in the microscopic domain required for life-science experiments. We present a successful test of this approach, including photoemission spectra taken on microscopic areas of a fixed neuron culture, and photoelectron two-dimensional microdistribution maps of specific elements. The test demonstrates that scanning photoemision spectromicroscopy can be successfully applied to biological specimens, although one cannot automatically connect results on fixed cultures and the in vivo properties.