diffractionbasierter

Diffraction-based methods (diffractionbasierter in German-language contexts) describe techniques and phenomena that rely on the diffraction of waves—most often light, but also electrons, X-rays, or sound—to obtain information or form images. Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves around edges and through openings, which gives rise to characteristic intensity patterns that depend on wavelength and geometry.

Key concepts include the distinction between near-field (Fresnel) and far-field (Fraunhofer) diffraction, and the Fourier relationship between an object's aperture or transmission function and its diffraction pattern. In optics, diffraction-based approaches underpin many imaging and sensing technologies, including diffractive optics, holography, and computational imaging methods that use diffraction data to reconstruct an object.

In spectroscopy and materials science, diffraction-based techniques are central to structure determination. X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction, and neutron diffraction reveal crystallographic parameters, phase composition, and microstructure. Diffraction is also the basis of crystallographic methods such as powder diffraction and single-crystal analysis.

Emerging diffraction-based methods in imaging include ptychography and diffraction tomography, which extract high-resolution information by analyzing how the object scatters or diffracts incident waves. These approaches emphasize information contained in diffraction patterns rather than direct intensity measurements.

Advantages of diffraction-based methods include non-destructive measurement and sensitivity to periodic structures; limitations include dependence on wavelength, sample geometry, and the need for phase retrieval or complex reconstruction algorithms. Diffraction remains a fundamental concept across physics, optics, and materials science.