Early Developments and Basic Concepts
Résumé
Since the 1990s, atom probe tomography (APT) technique has reached a recognized position among the most important analytical microscopy techniques. APT is able to map out the spatial distribution of atomic species in three dimensions. With a unique combination of chemical sensitivity and three dimensional capabilities with a spatial resolution near the atomic scale it provides unique information about nanoscale structures. In this introduction chapter, the overall fundamentals and performances of APT, its main fields of application in material science, the historical background, and modern challenges are briefly described.