Polarity Determination in EBSD Patterns Using the Hough Transformation

Abstract

Currently, the automated electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique only allows the differentiation of the Laue groups based on an electron backscatter pattern (EBSP). This article shows that information concerning the lattice plane polarity is not only stored in the EBSP, but also in the Hough transformed EBSP where it can be easily accessed for automated evaluation. Polar Kikuchi bands lead to asymmetric peaks during the Hough transformation that are dependent on the atomic number difference of the involved atoms. The effect can be strong enough to be detected when evaluating the intensities of the regular excess and deficiency lines. Polarity detection from the Hough transformation of an EBSP cannot only enhance the utility of the EBSD technique and expand the information gained from it, but also illustrates a path toward automated polarity determination during EBSD scans.