On effects of non-systematic reflections on weak-beam images of partial dislocations

The main features of weak beam images of dislocations were first described by Cockayne et al. using calculations of intensity profiles based on the kinematical and two beam dynamical theories. The feature of weak beam images which is of particular interest in this investigation is that intensity profiles exhibit a sharp peak located at a position very close to the position of the dislocation in the crystal. This property of weak beam images of dislocations has an important application in the determination of stacking fault energy of crystals. This can easily be done since the separation of the partial dislocations bounding a stacking fault ribbon can be measured with high precision, assuming of course that the weak beam relationship between the positions of the image and the dislocation is valid. In order to carry out measurements such as these in practice the specimen must be tilted to "good" weak beam diffraction conditions, which implies utilizing high values of the deviation parameter Sg.