X-ray Diffraction (XRD)

X-rays production process example

1) An electron in the K shell is ejected from the atom by an external electron

X-rays production process example

2)An electron from the L or M shell "jumps in to fill the vacancy. In the process, it emits a characteristic x-ray unique to this element and in turn, produces a vacancy in the L or M shell.

Production of X-rays

Typical XRD Machine

Basic Features of Typical XRD Experiment

What is X-ray Diffraction

Braggs Law certain angles of incidence (theta ). The variable d is the distance between atomic layers in a crystal, and the variable is the wavelength of the incident X-ray beam; n is an integer.

Constructive and Destructive Interference of Waves

Deriving Braggs Law

How waves reveal the atomic structure of crystals

This observation is an example of X-ray wave interference

It was direct evidence for the periodic atomic structure of crystals

Example of an X-ray powder diffractogram produced during an X-ray scan

Example of an X-ray powder diffractogram produced during an X-ray scan

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Why???

Why