Real-time in-situ three-dimensional observation of dislocations during tensile deformation

The three-dimensional (3D) morphological evolution of dislocations during crystal plastic deformation has been challenging in electron microscopy research. Although the temporal resolution of in-situ 3D observation of dislocations has improved to a few minutes, it is still not fast enough to capture the dislocation motion in real-time. Here, we propose a new method for real-time 3D in-situ observation of dislocations. This method combines machine learning-assisted rapid scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging and stereographic 3D reconstruction. Using this approach, we achieved real-time 3D observation of dislocations induced by tensile deformation in a single-crystal copper, with a temporal resolution ranging from 0.28 to 0.70 s. The observation results show a continuous evolution of the 3D dislocation morphology with millisecond temporal resolution. This new method provides a platform for future research on the dynamic behavior of dislocations.