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Architecture of Columnar Nacre, and Implications for Its Formation Mechanism

Rebecca A. Metzler, Mike Abrecht, Ronke M. Olabisi, Daniel Ariosa, Christopher J. Johnson, Bradley H. Frazer, Susan N. Coppersmith, and P. U. P. A. Gilbert
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 268102 – Published 29 June 2007
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Abstract

We analyze the structure of Haliotis rufescens nacre, or mother-of-pearl, using synchrotron spectromicroscopy and x-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. We observe imaging contrast between adjacent individual nacre tablets, arising because different tablets have different crystal orientations with respect to the radiation’s polarization vector. Comparing previous data and our new data with models for columnar nacre growth, we find the data are most consistent with a model in which nacre tablets are nucleated by randomly distributed sites in the organic matrix layers.

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  • Received 30 March 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.268102

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Rebecca A. Metzler1, Mike Abrecht2, Ronke M. Olabisi1, Daniel Ariosa3, Christopher J. Johnson4, Bradley H. Frazer2, Susan N. Coppersmith1, and P. U. P. A. Gilbert1,*

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
  • 2Synchrotron Radiation Center, 3731 Schneider Drive, Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589, USA
  • 3Institute for the Physics of Complex Matter, EPF-Lausanne, CH-1015 Switzerland
  • 4Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology & Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA

  • *Previously published as Gelsomina De Stasio. Corresponding author. pupa@physics.wisc.edu

See Also

Inside Mother-of-Pearl

Stephanie Chasteen
Phys. Rev. Focus 20, 1 (2007)

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Issue

Vol. 98, Iss. 26 — 29 June 2007

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