Radiation furnace for synchrotron dark-field x-ray microscopy experiments.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• X-ray Physics
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy requires specialized sample environments for in-situ experiments.
• High-temperature studies of crystalline materials are crucial for understanding phase transitions and material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a multi-purpose radiation furnace for synchrotron X-ray experiments.
• To optimize the furnace for dark-field X-ray microscopy (DFXM) of crystalline materials.

Main Methods:

• The furnace utilizes non-contact heating, achieving temperatures over 1200 °C with high thermal stability (<10 °C).
• Heating and cooling rates reach up to 30 K/s, accommodating various experimental needs.
• Temperature calibration was performed using the thermal expansion of an α-iron grain, and temperature profiles were mapped.

Main Results:

• The furnace demonstrates precise temperature control suitable for advanced X-ray techniques.
• It is compatible with heating in air or controlled atmospheres within capillary tubes.
• The system supports multiple X-ray techniques including DFXM, X-ray topography, nanotomography, and reciprocal space mapping.

Conclusions:

• The developed radiation furnace is a versatile tool for in-situ, high-temperature synchrotron X-ray experiments.
• Its optimization for DFXM facilitates detailed studies of crystalline materials under thermal stress.
• The successful application to aluminum single crystal heating demonstrates its utility in materials research.