Diffraction and imaging

This Teaching and Learning Package presents a brief summary of diffraction and imaging, using an optical system. The analogies to X-ray and electron diffraction make knowledge of optical diffraction key to understanding the behaviour. Diffraction plays a useful part in materials science, with such applications as the determination of crystal structure and the study of dislocation lines.

Zebra diffraction grating

Aims Before you start Introduction Diffraction patterns 1 Diffraction patterns 2 Two-dimensional diffraction Image formation Information obtained from diffraction pattern Applications of the theory of optical diffraction and imaging Summary Questions Going further

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First created: April 2004. "Going further" updated: January 2008