X-Ray Diffraction - Bragg’s Law

• Monochromatic x-rays are diffracted when

• nl=2dsinq

• l = x-ray wavelength

• d = spacing of planes of atoms

• q= diffraction angle

• This can happen only because

• x-rays scatter from several atoms at once.

• *Note difference with

• nl = d sin q

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Closer analysis by Bragg of the diffraction of x-rays showed that they diffracted at particular angles that were determined by the spacing between planes of atoms in much the same way as light is diffracted from a diffraction grating.