Bragg Diffraction is a phenomenon that occurs when X-rays or neutrons are scattered by the atomic planes in a crystal lattice. The condition for constructive interference, which is necessary for observing this diffraction, is given by Bragg's Law, expressed mathematically as:
where is an integer (the order of the diffraction), is the wavelength of the incident radiation, is the distance between the crystal planes, and is the angle of incidence. When these conditions are met, the scattered waves from different planes reinforce each other, producing a detectable intensity pattern. This technique is crucial in determining the crystal structure and arrangement of atoms in solid materials, making it a fundamental tool in fields such as materials science, chemistry, and solid-state physics. By analyzing the resulting diffraction patterns, scientists can infer important structural information about the material being studied.
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