Comparison of Kikuchi diffraction geometries in the scanning electron microscope

Recent advances in scanning electron microscope (SEM) based Kikuchi diffraction have demonstrated the important potential for transmission and reflection methods, like transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Furthermore, with the advent of compact direct electron detectors (DED) it has been possible to place the detector in a variety of configurations within the SEM chamber. This motivates the present work where we explore the similarities and differences of the different geometries that include on-axis TKD & off-axis TKD using electron transparent samples, as well as more conventional EBSD. Furthermore, we compare these with the newest method called “reflection Kikuchi diffraction” RKD where the sample is placed flat in the chamber and the detector is placed below the pole piece. Through remapping collected diffraction patterns, all these methods can be used to generate an experimental “diffraction sphere” that can be used to explore diffraction from any scattering vector from the unit cell, as well as the ability to perform band profile analysis. This diffraction sphere approach enables us to further probe specific differences between the methods, including for example thickness effects in TKD that can result in the generation of diffraction spots, as well as electron scattering path length effects that result in excess and deficiency variations, as well as inversion of bands in experimental patterns. • Four Kikuchi diffraction approaches are compared using direct electron detectors. • The four are: on- and off-axis TKD, EBSD and reflection Kikuchi diffraction (RKD). • All four methods can be used to reconstruct a ‘reference sphere’ and subsequent reprojections. • Each geometry subtly influences the diffraction data, especially to see high angular resolution details.