The reliability of focal-series reconstruction algorithms for the retr
ieval of the wavefunction at the exit plane of the object (exit-plane
wavefunction) is investigated for the case of non-periodic object feat
ures. Simulated high-resolution electron microscope images of an abrup
t GaAs/AlAs interface and of an edge dislocation in GaAs are chosen as
test cases. The reconstruction schemes employed for the retrieval of
the exit-plane wavefunction are the so-called ''paraboloid method'' (P
AM) and the ''maximum likelihood'' method (MAL) which have been develo
ped to application stage within the framework of the BRITE-EURAM proje
ct No. 3322. Special attention is given to the convergence behavior of
the algorithms in the presence of noise and under highly non-linear i
maging conditions.