Definition
X-ray diffraction is the result of coherent scattering of an X-ray beam through a solid-state crystalline phase. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction can provide information about the arrangement of atoms and overall chemical composition of mineral phases by determining the angle and intensity of the diffracted beam. Powder samples can also be analyzed using this method to identify unknown phases or mixtures, provide unit cell parameters, and determine particle sizes.
Introduction to X-rays
X-rays were first discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1985 during experiments with a cathode ray tube (Bertin 1975; Reventos et al. 2012). This device consists of a specialized vacuum tube in which images can be created when electrons are accelerated or deflected onto a phosphorescent screen. During his experiments, he observed that a fluorescent screen located on a table six feet away from his experiments glowed when he activated the tube. Since these rays were previously undescribed,...
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Forbes, T.Z. (2018). X-Ray Diffraction. In: White, W.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39312-4_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39312-4_25
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