AstroEBSD: exploring new space in pattern indexing with methods launched from an astronomical approach
File(s)Resubmission_v4.pdf (1.46 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Britton, Thomas Benjamin
Tong, Vivian
Hickey, Jim
Foden, Alex
Wilkinson, Angus
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a technique used to measure crystallographic features in the scanning electron microscope. The technique is highly automated and readily accessible in many laboratories. EBSD pattern indexing is conventionally performed with raw electron backscatter patterns. These patterns are software processed to locate the band centres (and sometimes edges) from which the crystallographic index of each band is determined. Once a consistent index for many bands is obtained, the crystal orientation with respect to a reference sample and detector orientation can be determined and presented. Unfortunately, because of challenges related to crystal symmetry, there are limited available pattern-indexing approaches and this has probably hampered open development of the technique. In this article, a new method of pattern indexing is presented, based upon a method with which satellites locate themselves in the night sky, and its effectiveness is systematically demonstrated using dynamical simulations and real experimental patterns. The benefit of releasing this new algorithm as open-source software is demonstrated when this indexing process is utilized, together with dynamical solutions, to provide some of the first accuracy assessments of an indexing solution. In disclosing a new indexing algorithm, and software processing toolkit, the authors hope to open up EBSD developments to more users. The software code and example data are released alongside this article for third party developments.
Date Issued
2018-12-01
Date Acceptance
2018-07-17
Citation
Journal of Applied Crystallography, 2018, 51 (6), pp.1525-1534
ISSN
0021-8898
Publisher
International Union of Crystallography
Start Page
1525
End Page
1534
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Applied Crystallography
Volume
51
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2018 International Union of Crystallography
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Royal Academy Of Engineering
Shell Global Solutions International BV
Grant Number
EP/K034332/1
RF/129
PT61050 / PO4550133349
Subjects
physics.comp-ph
physics.comp-ph
astro-ph.IM
cond-mat.mtrl-sci
Publication Status
Published