Use of electron backscatter diffraction patterns to determine the crystal lattice. Part 3. Pseudosymmetry

A pseudosymmetric description of the crystal lattice derived from a single wide‐angle Kikuchi pattern can have several causes. The small size (<15%) of the sector covered by an electron backscatter diffraction pattern, the limited precision of the projection centre position and the Kikuchi band definition are crucial. Inherent pseudosymmetries of the crystal lattice and/or structure also pose a challenge in the analysis of Kikuchi patterns. To eliminate experimental errors as much as possible, simulated Kikuchi patterns of 350 phases have been analysed using the software CALM [Nolze et al. (2021). J. Appl. Cryst.54, 1012–1022] in order to estimate the frequency of and reasons for pseudosymmetric crystal lattice descriptions. Misinterpretations occur in particular when the atomic scattering factors of non‐equivalent positions are too similar and reciprocal‐lattice points are systematically missing. As an example, a pseudosymmetry prediction depending on the elements involved is discussed for binary AB compounds with B1 and B2 structure types. However, since this is impossible for more complicated phases, this approach cannot be directly applied to compounds of arbitrary composition and structure.

Distinguishing between actual and apparent pseudosymmetry in electron backscatter diffraction patterns is nearly impossible, even for simulated patterns. However, the resulting lattice is always a superlattice as long as the signal is not a superposition of multiple patterns.