  We present a detailed electron diffraction study of individual single-walled
carbon nanotubes. A novel sample preparation procedure provides well-separated,
long and straight individual single-shell nanotubes. Diffraction experiments
are carried out at 60kV, below the threshold for knock-on damage in carbon
nanotubes. We describe experimental parameters that allow single-tube electron
diffraction experiments with widely available thermal emission transmission
electron microscopes. Further, we review the simulation of diffraction patterns
for these objects.
