Three-dimensional X-ray diffraction in the diamond anvil cell: application to stishovite

Three-dimensional X-ray diffraction can be used for characterizing the orientation, position, and strain tensor of single grains in a polycrystalline aggregate. Here, we show how the method is well suited for diamond anvil cell data with heterogeneous grain sizes, with an application to two samples of stishovite at 15 and 26 GPa. For each grain, we obtain a well-defined orientation matrix and cell parameters. Center of mass position can also be adjusted to the experimental data, with errors in the present experiment. Finally, strain tensors are adjusted for the individual grains. The stress distribution obtained is in agreement with expectations from the diamond anvil cell geometry and previous measurements of stishovite strength. Advantages and potential for improvement of the method are then discussed.