Continuous scanning for Bragg coherent X-ray imaging

TLDR

Continuous scanning reduces sample instability under the beam and will be increasingly important at diffraction‑limited storage ring light sources. The study explores using continuous scanning during data acquisition for Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, where the sample moves continuously. The authors implement continuous scanning during Bragg coherent diffraction imaging by moving the sample continuously during data acquisition. Continuous scanning Bragg coherent diffraction imaging on a Pt nanoparticle at 400 °C in an Ar flow reduced scan time by 30 % and produced Bragg electron density, phase, displacement, and strain fields that agree well with conventional step‑by‑step scanning.

Abstract

Abstract We explore the use of continuous scanning during data acquisition for Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, i.e., where the sample is in continuous motion. The fidelity of continuous scanning Bragg coherent diffraction imaging is demonstrated on a single Pt nanoparticle in a flow reactor at $$400\,^\circ \hbox {C}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>400</mml:mn> <mml:msup> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mo>∘</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:mtext>C</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> in an Ar-based gas flowed at 50 ml/min. We show a reduction of 30% in total scan time compared to conventional step-by-step scanning. The reconstructed Bragg electron density, phase, displacement and strain fields are in excellent agreement with the results obtained from conventional step-by-step scanning. Continuous scanning will allow to minimise sample instability under the beam and will become increasingly important at diffraction-limited storage ring light sources.