TEM of twinning in alpha and beta phase plutonium
Twinning in α and β phase Pu has been studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to experimentally determine active twinning systems in this complex metal. Twinning in alpha phase Pu was studied in 2 specimens including a triode sputter deposited film, and a partially transformed (α+δ phase) Pu nominally lwt% Ga alloy. A thick film of metastable beta phase was also obtained by triode sputter deposition. Phase identification of all samples was determined from x-ray diffraction patterns. Alpha phase has a monoclinic crystal structure with 16 atoms per unit cell and a P21/m space group. Beta phase has a body-centered monoclinic crystal structure with 34 atoms per unit cell and an I2/m space group.Parent/twin orientation relationships were determined by electron diffraction pattern analysis, stereographic projection analysis and fundamental crystallographic calculations.A computer program was also developed to search for all possible twinning systems in α Pu.