X-ray Diffraction of a Magnetically Oriented Microcrystal Suspension of L-Alanine

In-situ X-ray diffraction measurements of a magnetically oriented microcrystal suspension (MOMS) of L-alanine (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1)) were performed with and without rotation of the suspension in a static magnetic field (1 T). The easy magnetization axis (parallel to c*) aligned uniaxially parallel to the applied field in the case without rotation, while the hard magnetization axis (parallel to b*) aligned uniaxially parallel to the rotating axis in the case with rotation. As a result, two fiber diffraction patterns were obtained, which exhibited sharp diffraction spots with half widths of ca. 2-3 degrees.