Bringing synchrotron micro-diffraction to the laboratory

During the last 20 years, several 3D/4D materials mapping techniques have been developed at large international synchrotron facilities, using intense high-energy X-rays. These tools like superman’s eyes enable us to see the grains embedded deeply in opaque bulk samples in 3D without cutting up the sample. The techniques include 3D X-ray diffraction, diffraction contrast tomography and X-ray Laue micro-diffraction. With these advanced 3D techniques, scientists are able to perform unprecedented 4D (3D+time) experiments to monitor in-situ the evolution of individual grains during external loading. These synchrotron techniques are now rather matured and have become ‘standard’ at large international synchrotron facilities. However, access to those large synchrotron facilities is very limited. To overcome this limitation, in this project we will try to bring the synchrotron micro-diffraction to the laboratory.