Diffraksjonsmetode

Diffraksjonsmetode, or diffraction methods, refers to a range of techniques used to study the atomic or molecular structure of materials by analyzing the pattern of diffraction produced when waves interact with them. Most commonly, this involves X-rays, neutrons, or electrons. When these waves encounter a crystalline material, they are scattered in specific directions due to the regular arrangement of atoms within the crystal lattice. This scattering, known as diffraction, results in a characteristic pattern of spots or rings.

The principle behind diffraction methods is Bragg's Law, which relates the wavelength of the incident radiation, the spacing between atomic planes in the crystal, and the angle of diffraction. By measuring the angles and intensities of the diffracted beams, scientists can determine the positions of atoms within the material, their bond lengths and angles, and the overall crystalline structure.

Common applications of diffraction methods include identifying unknown crystalline substances, determining the unit cell dimensions of a crystal, analyzing the orientation of crystallites in a polycrystalline sample, and studying changes in crystal structure under different conditions, such as temperature or pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is particularly widespread in materials science, chemistry, and mineralogy, while neutron diffraction is valuable for locating light atoms like hydrogen, and electron diffraction is often used for thin films and nanoscale materials.