Optical diffraction technique for determination of crystal orientations

An optical technique for determination of crystal orientations is described. This technique uses texture etching to generate pseudoperiodic surface structures whose groove shape is characteristic of the surface orientation. When such a textured surface is illuminated with monochromatic light, a far-field diffraction pattern characteristic of the surface orientation is observed. A procedure for analysis of diffraction patterns to determine crystal orientations is discussed. Results obtained by this technique agree very well with those using the x-ray Laue technique.