Improving the accessibility and rigor of powerful coherent x-ray imaging via explicit analysis frameworks

Bragg coherent diffractive imaging (BCDI) is an extremely powerful x-ray characterization tool for materials, able to create 3D maps of the strain and defects within a crystal. It is unique in its combination of non-destructive, in situ imaging with picometer strain resolution, high defect sensitivity, and 3D capabilities. These strengths make it a valuable tool for characterizing materials with applications ranging from electronic and photonics to magnetic materials, electrochemical systems, and beyond. Despite this utility, it has a high barrier of entry due to the knowledge required to gather, process, and analyze the x-ray data. While BCDI user facilities can assist non-experts with data collection and processing, it remains challenging for newcomers to perform data analysis, particularly when attempting to identify defects within BCDI results.

This poster will cover the power and challenges of the technique for a broad audience, as well as share a new analysis framework that will enable newcomers and veterans alike to better analyze the presence of defects in crystals using BCDI. This framework uses an iterative approach to connect BCDI signatures with physical models of defects, streamlining the process and significantly improving the rigor of the identification.