bragg

Bragg is a surname of English origin and is associated with several notable people, scientific concepts, and place names. In science, the Bragg name is most closely tied to the work of William Henry Bragg and his son Lawrence Bragg, who pioneered X-ray crystallography. The two were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 for their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-ray methods.

Bragg's law, named for William and Lawrence Bragg, describes the condition under which X-rays scattered by crystal planes produce constructive interference. It is commonly written as nλ = 2d sin θ, where λ is the X-ray wavelength, d is the spacing between crystal planes, and θ is the glancing angle. This law underpins X-ray diffraction techniques used to determine crystal structures. Bragg diffraction refers to the scattering pattern produced by these interactions, and the term Bragg peak denotes a sharp maximum in scattered intensity at a specific angle.

Other uses of the name include Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general after whom Fort Bragg in North Carolina is named. Fort Bragg is a major U.S. Army installation, and the name has been used in other places and institutions connected to the fort.

In addition to these widely known associations, Bragg may appear as a surname for various individuals in different fields. The Bragg legacy is therefore encountered in physics, military history, and geographic namesakes, among other contexts.