  Imaging dynamical processes at interfaces and on the nanoscale is of great
importance throughout science and technology. While light-optical imaging
techniques often cannot provide the necessary spatial resolution,
electron-optical techniques damage the specimen and cause dose-induced
artefacts. Here, Optical Near-field Electron Microscopy (ONEM) is proposed, an
imaging technique that combines non-invasive probing with light, with a high
spatial resolution read-out via electron optics. Close to the specimen, the
optical near-fields are converted into a spatially varying electron flux using
a planar photocathode. The electron flux is imaged using low energy electron
microscopy, enabling label-free nanometric resolution without the need to scan
a probe across the sample. The specimen is never exposed to damaging electrons.
