X-ray backscatter diffraction and X-ray fluorescence for the rapid structural and chemical characterisation of rock samples

Overview

The advisory team devised a synchrotron-based microscopy method for coeval measurements of elemental concentrations and crystal-orientation data combining X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) with X-ray backscatter diffraction mapping (XBDM).

We seek students with a background in physics, crystallography, or mineralogy and coding skills to help with the improvement of the methods.

XBDM/XFM has the potential to become a game changer in the microphysical and -chemical characterisation of crystalline solids, with future applications in the critical-minerals industry and material science.

Research activities

A broad range of problems can be designed, depending on student skills and interests. Examples include:

• development of image analysis tools for the automated segmentation of grains and subgrains
• development and computational implementation of strategies for crystallographic indexing of XBDM data for the major rock-forming minerals
• forward simulations of single-crystal Bragg reflections for experimentally relevant scattering angles and X-ray energies.

Outcomes

The primary outcome is the delivery of improved computational methods for the acquisition, processing, quantitative analysis, and visualisation of XFM/XBDM datasets. The secondary outcome includes application to selected case studies in a geological context. All outcomes will, eventually, be published in highly ranked scientific journals.

Skills and experience

All candidates must have coding skills or a strong interest and promise in acquiring them. Since most of the work will deal with elastic scattering of X-rays, a background in X-ray physics and/or mineralogy/crystallography is needed.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

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Keywords

• X-ray diffraction
• X-ray fluorescence

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.