Lecture on Diffraction

In 1812, von Laue postulated that if crystals were composed of regularly spaced atoms which might act as scattering centers for x-rays (considered to be EM radiation of wavelength roughly the same as the interatomic spacing between crystal planes), then it should be possible to diffract x-rays using crystals

X-rays diffracted by the crystal (copper sulfate) to form a pattern of spots on a photographic plate W.H. Bragg and W.L. Bragg successfully analyzed the results of the Laue experiment and came up with the mathematical equation for the condition for diffraction

Consider a beam of x-rays Assume it is plane-polarized such that the electric field vector E is always in one plane Consider that the beam has two ray components which are in phase, each having half the amplitude of the beam

Wave front surface perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation A path difference between the components will introduce a possible phase difference Phase difference produces a change in amplitude of the resultant wave

Two rays are completely in phase whenever their path lengths differ either by zero or by a whole number of wavelengths A diffracted beam is composed of a large number of scattered rays mutually reinforcing one another

Diffraction is essentially a scattering phenomenon Condition for diffraction given by Bragg law first formulated by W.L. Bragg n = 2 d sin

n = order of reflection n is also the number of wavelengths in the path difference between rays scattered by adjacent planes

Diffracted beam is rather strong compared to the sum of all rays scattered in the same direction but extremely weak compared to the incident beam Atoms in a crystal scatter only a small fraction of the energy incident on them

Scattering Modes
1. By atoms arranged randomly in space, as in
a monatomic gas occurs in all directions and weak 2. By atoms arranged periodically in space as in a perfect crystal a) In a very few directions (diffraction) Amplitudes add b) In most directions (not satisfying Bragg law), scattered rays cancel one another

Fundamental differences between diffraction and reflection

1. Diffracted beam from a crystal is made up of rays scattered by all the atoms of the crystal which lie in the path of the incident beam reflection takes place in a thin surface layer only 2. Diffraction of monochromatic x-rays takes place only at angles of incidence satisfying Braggs Law reflection of visible light takes place at any angle of incidence

Fundamental differences between diffraction and reflection

3. reflection of visible light by a good mirror is almost a hundred percent efficient diffraction is very inefficient process

 = 2 (d/n) sin Let d = d/n = 2 d sin

Meaning of n-th order reflection

An n-th order reflection from (hkl) planes of spacing d may be considered as a first-order reflection from the (nh nk nl) planes of spacing d = d/n Example 2nd order reflection from (100) planes can be considered as first order reflection from (200) planes