The microstructure and strain state of twin domains were considered on the basis of synchrotron white-beam X-ray microdiffraction measurements. Intensity variations of the 4-fold twin splitting of Laue diffraction peaks were used to determine the twin domain structure. Strain analysis showed that interfaces between neighboring twin domains were strained in shear, whereas the interiors of the domains were regions of low strain. These measurements were consistent with the orientation relationships of twin boundaries within, and across, domains and showed that basal-plane shear stresses could exceed 100MPa where twin domains met.

Shear at Twin Domain Boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7-x. W.A.Caldwell, N.Tamura, R.S.Celestre, A.A.MacDowell, H.A.Padmore, T.H.Geballe, G.Koster, B.W.Batterman, J.R.Patel: Physical Review Letters, 2004, 92[21], 216105 (3pp)