Correlative Analysis of Crystals in 3D

任何晶体材料的性能在很大程度上取决于它的晶体性质，如晶体取向。晶体材料包括金属、合金和陶瓷，所有这些都是具有重要战略意义的高价值材料。材料特性对于理解在许多工业部门都有应用的一系列功能和结构材料中的关键工艺至关重要。我们请求资助ZEISS Hercules包的CrystalCT和横梁350与飞秒(飞秒)激光器的相关配置，集成并在一个强大的软件平台上运行。这种新设备代表了材料特性的游戏规则改变者；它将实现多种能力，包括使用实验室X射线源的3D无损和高通量晶体和微结构成像，进入深埋感兴趣的区域，以及对大量材料进行3D晶体的相关分析。该设备是3D晶体成像系统，将为米德兰兹地区带来新的能力，成为英国唯一能够以亚微米分辨率捕获各向同性体素尺寸的组合系统，并将首次实现从厘米到纳米的长度尺度的多模式和多尺度晶体材料表征的变革性工作流程。由于其独特的晶体相关三维成像能力，所要求的设备在地方、地区和国家各级都有强烈的需求。通过与莱斯特大学内的多学科研究团队以及我们的地区和国家合作伙伴组织密切合作，我们确定了三个具有地区和国家竞争力的核心领域。预计该设备将支持的拟议研究课题将提升到具有国际竞争力的水平。Micro-CT(也称为微型计算机层析成像)是一种使用X射线逐层观察材料内部的三维成像技术。吸收对比层析成像是描述传统微型CT工作原理的工作原理，它测量材料中的密度差异，如孔隙率、夹杂物、缺陷等。然而，它不能揭示由晶体取向定义的颗粒微结构，这对几乎任何金属材料的性质和性能都是关键。吸收和衍射的结合揭示了颗粒微观结构的完整图景，然后可以帮助研究人员了解缺陷的形成机制。从这个意义上说，独立的CrystalCT系统已经是一种特殊的微型CT。CrystalCT和带有飞秒激光的横梁350的独特相关配置甚至更令人兴奋，因为它能够在厘米到纳米的长度尺度上进行3D颗粒成像。设备将由一个委员会管理，以监督战略问题，主要专注于让企业意识到该仪器的研究能力，以及增长多样化和包容性的用户基础。最终，支持这项设备提案将使我们能够为英国带来显著的社会和经济效益。

The performance of any crystalline material depends greatly upon its crystal properties, such as crystallographic orientation. Crystalline materials include metals, alloys and ceramics, all of which are high-value strategically important materials. Materials characterisation is crucial to the understanding of key processes in a range of functional and structural materials that have applications across many industrial sectors. We request funding for a ZEISS Hercules package of CrystalCT and Crossbeam 350 with femtosecond (fs)-laser in correlative configuration, integrated and running on one powerful software platform. This new equipment represents a game changer for materials characterisation; it will enable numerous capabilities, including 3D non-destructive and high throughput crystallographic and microstructural imaging using laboratory-based X-ray source, access to deeply buried regions of interest as well as performing correlative analysis of crystals in 3D on large volumes of materials.This equipment, a 3D crystallographic imaging system, will bring new capabilities to the Midlands region, becoming the only combination system in the UK capable of capturing isotropic voxel dimensions at sub-micron resolution, and will, for the first time, enable a transformative workflow for both multi-modal and multi-scale characterisation of crystalline materials, at length scale from centimetres to nanometres. The requested equipment has a strong demand at local, regional and national levels due to its unique capabilities for correlative 3D imaging of crystals. By working closely with multi-disciplinary research teams within the University of Leicester, and our regional and national partner organisations, we have identified three Core Areas with competitive regional and national strengths. It is anticipated that the proposed research topics that this equipment will support will be elevated to internationally competitive levels.Micro-CT (also called micro computed tomography) is a 3D imaging technique that uses X-rays to look inside a material slice by slice. Absorption contrast tomography, the working principle describing how a conventional micro-CT works, measures density differences in a material, such as porosity, inclusions, defects, etc. However, it cannot not reveal the grain microstructure, defined by crystallographic orientations, which is key to almost any metallic materials' properties and performance. The combination of absorption and diffraction unravels a complete picture of grain microstructure which can then be linked to help researchers understand the defect formation mechanisms. In this sense, the stand-alone CrystalCT system is already an exceptional micro-CT. The unique correlative configuration of the CrystalCT and Crossbeam 350 with fs-laser is even more exciting as it enables the 3D grain imaging across the length-scales of centimetres to nanometres.The equipment will be managed through a committee to oversee strategic issues, primarily focusing on making businesses aware of the research capabilities of this instrument, as well as growing a diverse and inclusive user base. Ultimately, supporting this equipment proposal will allow us to provide significant societal and economic benefit to the UK.