Open AccessCoherent X‐ray diffraction investigation of twinned microcrystals
Author(s) -
Aranda Miguel A. G.,
Berenguer Felisa,
Bean Richard J.,
Shi Xiaowen,
Xiong Gang,
Collins Stephen P.,
Nave Colin,
Robinson Ian K.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of synchrotron radiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 99
ISSN - 1600-5775
DOI - 10.1107/s0909049510039774
Subject(s) - diffraction , materials science , crystallography , crystal twinning , manganite , bragg's law , optics , powder diffraction , phase (matter) , x ray crystallography , resolution (logic) , microstructure , condensed matter physics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , ferromagnetism , artificial intelligence , computer science
Coherent X‐ray diffraction has been used to study pseudo‐merohedrally twinned manganite microcrystals. The analyzed compositions were Pr 5/8 Ca 3/8 MnO 3 and La 0.275 Pr 0.35 Ca 3/8 MnO 3 . The prepared loose powder was thermally attached to glass (and quartz) capillary walls by gentle heating to ensure positional stability during data collection. Many diffraction data sets were recorded and some of them were split as expected from the main observed twin law: 180° rotation around [101]. The peak splitting was measured with very high precision owing to the high‐resolution nature of the diffraction data, with a resolution (Δ d / d ) better than 2.0 × 10 −4 . Furthermore, when these microcrystals are illuminated coherently, the different crystallographic phases of the structure factors induce interference in the form of a speckle pattern. The three‐dimensional speckled Bragg peak intensity distribution has been measured providing information about the twin domains within the microcrystals. Research is ongoing to invert the measured patterns. Successful phase retrieval will allow mapping out the twin domains and twin boundaries which play a key role in the physical properties.