In situ study of plastic deformation in a Mg-Ce alloy using polychromatic micro X-ray diffraction

► In situ observation of strain evolution in MgCe at an intragranular length scale. ► Spatial distribution of axial and normal elastic strain measured up to 140 MPa. ► Onset of Laue pattern streaking modelled by edge geometrically necessary dislocations. ► Upon plastic loading observation of small-angle tilt boundaries within grain interior.