Topological defects
in solid-state materials by breaking the translational
symmetry offer emerging properties that are not present in their parental
phases. For example, edge dislocationsthe 2π phase-winding
topological defectsin antiferromagnetic NiO crystals can exhibit
ferromagnetic behaviors. Herein, we study how these defects could
give rise to topological orders when they interact with a high-energy
electron beam. To probe this interaction, we formed a coherent electron
nanobeam in a scanning transmission electron microscope and recorded
the far-field transmitted patterns as the beam steps through the edge
dislocation core in [001] NiO. Surprisingly, we found the amplitude
patterns of the ⟨020⟩ Bragg disks evolve in a similar
manner to the evolution of an annular solar eclipse. Using the ptychographic
technique, we recovered the missing phase information in the diffraction
plane and revealed the topological phase vortices in the diffracted
beams. Through atomic topological defects, the wave function of electrons
can be converted from plane wave to electron vortex. Technologically,
this approach provides a feasible route for the fabrication of phase
plates that can generate electron vortex beams with an angular separation
that is 3 orders of magnitude larger than what traditional nanofabrication
technology can offer. This advance will enable the collection of magnetic
circular dichroism spectra with high spatial resolution and high efficiency,
boosting the understanding of the relationship between symmetry breaking
and magnetic property of individual topological defect at the atomic
scale.