Why diffraction

Diffraction techniques exploit the scattering of radiation from large numbers of sites. We will concentrate on scattering from atoms, groups of atoms and molecules, mainly in crystals.

There are various diffraction techniques currently employed which result in diffraction patterns. These patterns are records of the diffracted beams produced.

Click on the three animations on this page to show three diffraction patterns.

From diffraction patterns we can:

• measure the average spacings between layers or rows of atoms;

• determine the orientation of a single crystal or grain;

• find the crystal structure of an unknown material; and

• measure the size, shape and internal stress of small crystalline regions.