Heating at the nanoscale as a possible mechanism for radiation damage and X-ray nanopatterning

We propose to investigate the role of heating at the nanoscale (both in time and in space) as one of the microscopic mechanisms possibly responsible for radiation damage. We want to measure the single-crystal XRD patterns and the corresponding lattice thermal expansion as a function of the photon flux density, filling mode and sample temperature. These measurements will be compared to numerical predictions and will provide valuable information for defect engineering and X-ray nanopatterning (XNP).