X-Ray Diffraction: Photon-Atom Interaction & De Broglie's Eq.

[matt_crouch]

How do the photons actually interact with the atoms to make them diffract. is it related to de broglies equation some how?

Also with High energy electron diffraction, are the electrons being diffracted because they are attracted and repelled electrostatically from the nucleus and orbiting electrons?

 

[turin]

I believe that the x-rays excite the inner-most electron shells (or possibly the nucleas, but I think that nuclear excitations require gamma ray energies, and, in fact, this is the original basis for the definition of gamma ray vs. x-ray). Then, the excited shells become temporary (i.e. one-shot) isotropic radiators that can be stimulated by the next ray.

For electrons, the first approximation is that they scatter on the lattice of Coulomb potentials of the nuclei. This scattering can be predominently wave-like in nature if the wavelength is long enough. However, if the wavelength is too long, the electrons cannot pass through for other reasons besides back-scattering.

 

[astrokreng]

X-ray diffraction is a powerful technique used in the field of material science and crystallography to determine the atomic and molecular structure of a material. It involves shining a beam of X-rays onto a sample and measuring the pattern of scattered X-rays that results. This pattern can then be analyzed to determine the arrangement and spacing of atoms in the sample.

The interaction between X-ray photons and atoms is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, specifically the concept of wave-particle duality. According to this concept, particles, such as photons, can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior. In the case of X-rays, they can be thought of as waves of electromagnetic radiation.

When an X-ray photon encounters an atom, it can interact with the electrons in the atom in two ways. First, it can be scattered off the electrons, which causes the X-ray to change direction and lose some energy. This is known as elastic scattering and is the basis of X-ray diffraction. The second way is through inelastic scattering, where the photon transfers some of its energy to an electron, causing it to be ejected from the atom.

The phenomenon of X-ray diffraction is related to De Broglie's equation, which describes the wavelength of a particle based on its momentum. In this case, the X-ray photon can be thought of as having a momentum and a corresponding wavelength. As the X-ray interacts with the atoms in a sample, it is diffracted by the regular arrangement of atoms, resulting in a diffraction pattern that can be analyzed to determine the atomic structure.

Similarly, high energy electron diffraction also involves the interaction of electrons with atoms in a sample. In this case, the electrons are accelerated to high energies and then directed towards the sample. As the electrons interact with the atoms in the sample, they are diffracted, resulting in a diffraction pattern that can be used to determine the atomic structure.

The interaction between electrons and atoms in high energy electron diffraction is indeed related to the electrostatic forces between the negatively charged electrons and the positively charged nucleus and orbiting electrons. These forces can cause the electrons to be diffracted as they pass through the sample, resulting in a diffraction pattern that can be analyzed to determine the atomic structure.

In summary, both X-ray and high energy electron diffraction involve the interaction of particles (photons or electrons) with atoms in a sample. This interaction is based on the principles of quantum mechanics and is related