Fig. 1

a, b Model gold nanoparticle containing 1925 atoms with a diameter of  4 nm. The electron beam travels in the negative z-direction. The full lines indicate the computational cell and the dashed lines indicate the rotation axes denoted \(\Omega _1\) and \(\Omega _2\). c The HRTEM images are simulated by propagating the incoming plane wave through the sample potential using the multislice algorithm. The resulting wave at the exit plane is transferred through the objective lens to the detector using the CTF. Defocus is given relative to the bottom of the nanoparticle, with a positive defocus referring to propagation toward the detector