- #1
Yosty22
- 185
- 4
Homework Statement
This is a conceptual question that I am not quite sure about. In the Davisson-Germer Experiment (details here), do the electron diffraction peaks that occur only show up if the incident beam of electrons hits the crystal surface perpendicularly?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I was really confused when reading this in my textbook when it relates to this question. The book talks a lot about Davisson and Germer's initial intent which was to "attempt to understand the arrangement of atoms on the surface of a nickel sample by elastically scattering a beam of low-speed electrons from a polycrystalline nickel target. (If you are unfamiliar with the story, someone dropped a flask of liquid air on the vacuum system, oxidizing the nickel target. They then realized that the crystalline structures it created scattering of electrons, showing that the electron is also a matter-wave).
However, in my textbook, they talk about \alpha being the target orientation, and that is 90°. After that brief mention, they do not really speak of it again. Because of this, I am a little unsure as what to believe. Would these peaks arise if the angle was different than 90°?