The helical nature of twisted nanowires is studied by simulated X-ray diffraction. It is shown that this helicity is revealed by the anisotropy, which can be both an elastic anisotropy, through the warping displacement generated by torsion, or a shape anisotropy of the cross section. To support the analytical calculations, based on the kinematic theory of diffraction by helices, atomistic simulations of copper nanowires are performed.
Defects in ultrathin copper nanowires: Atomistic simulations