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X-ray diffraction
The diffraction of X-rays by the atoms or ions of a crystal, according to a characteristic pattern that enables information to be obtained on the structure of the crystal. X-ray diffraction was discovered by Max von Laue (1912) and developed for crystal analysis (X-ray crystallography) by W. H. and W. L. Bragg (1912-13).
The atomic nuclei in a crystal lattice act as diffraction gratings; the planes of atoms have spacings of a few Angstrom units, which are comparable with the wavelengths of X-rays. Strong scattering of the rays by the crystal therefore occurs in certain directions, according to Bragg's law. Various techniques are available for applying X-ray diffraction to the study of single crystals, powders, fibers, etc., and by computation it is possible to work out 3-dimensional electron density maps of the solid lattice from the recorded X-ray patterns.
Related categories
• ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
• OPTICS AND OPTICAL PHENOMENA
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