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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

High Pressure Single Crystal Diffraction at PX^2
Published on: January 16, 2017
Twinning and Dislocation Evolution during Shock Compression and Release of Single Crystals: Real-Time X-Ray
Stefan J Turneaure1, P Renganathan1, J M Winey1
1Institute for Shock Physics, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
Abstract:
Determining the temporal evolution of twinning and/or dislocation slip, in real-time (nanoseconds), in single crystals subjected to plane shock wave loading is a long-standing scientific need. Noncubic crystals pose special challenges because they have many competing slip and twinning systems. Here, we report on time-resolved, in situ, synchrotron Laue x-ray diffraction measurements during shock compression and release of magnesium single crystals that are subjected to compression along the c axis. Significant twinning was observed directly during stress release following shock compression; during compression, only dislocation slip was observed. Our measurements unambiguously distinguish between twinning and dislocation slip on nanosecond timescales in a shocked hexagonal-close-packed metal.
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