[摘要]:Electron vortex beams were only recently discovered and their potential as a probe for magnetism in materials was shown. Here we demonstrate a method to produce electron vortex beams with a diameter of less than 1.2 angstrom. This unique way to prepare free electrons to a state resembling atomic orbitals is fascinating from a fundamental physics point of view and opens the road for magnetic mapping with atomic resolution in an electron microscope. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3662012]