Imaging microstructural dynamics and strain fields in electro-active materials in situ with dark field x-ray microscopy.

The electric-field-induced and temperature induced dynamics of domains, defects, and phases play an important role in determining the macroscopic functional response of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials. However, distinguishing and quantifying these phenomena remains a persistent challenge that inhibits our understanding of the fundamental structure-property relationships. In situ dark field x-ray microscopy is a new experimental technique for the real space mapping of lattice strain and orientation in bulk materials.

Revealing internal flow behaviour in arc welding and additive manufacturing of metals.

Internal flow behaviour during melt-pool-based metal manufacturing remains unclear and hinders progression to process optimisation. In this contribution, we present direct time-resolved imaging of melt pool flow dynamics from a high-energy synchrotron radiation experiment. We track internal flow streams during arc welding of steel and measure instantaneous flow velocities ranging from 0.

Analytical transmission cross-coefficients for pink beam X-ray microscopy based on compound refractive lenses.

Analytical expressions for the transmission cross-coefficients for x-ray microscopes based on compound refractive lenses are derived based on Gaussian approximations of the source shape and energy spectrum. The effects of partial coherence, defocus, beam convergence, as well as lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberrations are accounted for and discussed. Taking the incoherent limit of the transmission cross-coefficients, a compact analytical expression for the modulation transfer function of the system is obtained, and the resulting point, line and edge spread functions are presented.

Zernike phase contrast in high-energy x-ray transmission microscopy based on refractive optics.

The current work represents the first implementation of Zernike phase contrast for compound refractive lens based x-ray microscopy, and also the first successful Zernike phase contrast experiment at photon energies above 12 keV. Phase contrast was achieved by fitting a compound refractive lens with a circular phase plate. The resolution is demonstrated to be sub-micron, and can be improved using already existing technology.

: reconstruction and visualization of scattering data in reciprocal space.

Two-dimensional solid-state X-ray detectors can now operate at considerable data throughput rates that allow full three-dimensional sampling of scattering data from extended volumes of reciprocal space within second to minute time-scales. For such experiments, simultaneous analysis and visualization allows for remeasurements and a more dynamic measurement strategy. A new software, , is presented.

Rochelle salt - a structural reinvestigation with improved tools. I. The high-temperature para-electric phase at 308 K.

The crystal structure of the high-temperature paraelectric phase of Rochelle salt (K(+)·Na(+)·C4H4O6 (2-)·4H2O) at 308 K has been reinvestigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction with refinement parameters R(int) = 0.0123, final (shift/e.s.

Three-beam resonant X-ray diffraction in germanium - Laue transmission cases.

Perturbation of the two-beam diffracted power owing to the influence of a third lattice node has been examined for various three-beam cases in a small finite germanium crystal in the vicinity of the K-absorption edge. Although the crystal was slightly imperfect, the main parts of the experimental results are very well described within the framework of the fundamental theory of X-ray diffraction in conjunction with Cromer-Liberman calculations for the resonant scattering terms. Beam divergence and dynamical block size are treated as adjustable parameters in the analysis.

The charge density of urea from synchrotron diffraction data.

The charge density of urea is studied using very high precision single-crystal synchrotron-radiation diffraction data collected at the Swiss-Norwegian Beam Lines at ESRF. An unprecedented resolution of 1.44 A(-1) in sin theta;/lambda is obtained at 123 K.