title: X-ray birefringence imaging.
abstract: The polarizing optical microscope has been used since the 19th century to study the structural anisotropy of materials, based on the phenomenon of optical birefringence. In contrast, the phenomenon of x-ray birefringence has been demonstrated only recently and has been shown to be a sensitive probe of the orientational properties of individual molecules and/or bonds in anisotropic solids. Here, we report a technique-x-ray birefringence imaging (XBI)-that enables spatially resolved mapping of x-ray birefringence of materials, representing the x-ray analog of the polarizing optical microscope. Our results demonstrate the utility and potential of XBI as a sensitive technique for imaging the local orientational properties of anisotropic materials, including characterization of changes in molecular orientational ordering associated with solid-state phase transitions and identification of the size, spatial distribution, and temperature dependence of domain structures.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Edwards-Gau
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales.
authors.forename: Benson M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kariuki
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales. harriskdm@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kenneth D M
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, England.
authors.forename: Igor P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Dolbnya
authors.affiliation: Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, England.
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Collins