The influence of strain on image reconstruction in Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging and ptychography.

A quantitative analysis of the effect of strain on phase retrieval in Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging is reported. It is shown in reconstruction simulations that the phase maps of objects with strong step-like phase changes are more precisely retrieved than the corresponding modulus values. The simulations suggest that the reconstruction precision for both phase and modulus can be improved by employing a modulus homogenization (MH) constraint. This approach was tested on experimental data from a highly strained Fe-Al crystal which also features antiphase domain boundaries yielding characteristic π phase shifts of the (001) superlattice reflection. The impact of MH is significant and this study outlines a successful method towards imaging of strong phase objects using the next generation of coherent X-ray sources, including X-ray free-electron lasers.