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  • x-ray diffraction
    x-ray diffraction
    noun
    diffraction of x-rays by the regularly spaced atoms of a crystal, useful for determining the arrangement of the atoms.
  • X-ray diffraction
    X-ray diffraction
    noun
    the scattering of X-rays on contact with matter, resulting in changes in radiation intensity, which is used for studying atomic structure

x-ray diffraction

American  

noun

Physics.
  1. diffraction of x-rays by the regularly spaced atoms of a crystal, useful for determining the arrangement of the atoms.


X-ray diffraction British  

noun

  1. the scattering of X-rays on contact with matter, resulting in changes in radiation intensity, which is used for studying atomic structure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

x-ray diffraction Scientific  
  1. The scattering of x-rays by crystal atoms, producing a diffraction pattern that yields information about the structure of the crystal. X-ray diffraction is used in x-ray crystallography.


Etymology

Origin of x-ray diffraction

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

They used two types of x-ray diffraction analysis to explore the encapsulation process as it happened.

From Science Daily Nov. 14, 2024

Peterson ran chemical and x-ray diffraction studies on track samples, testing, among other things, the soil's density, moisture content, and mineralogical qualities.

From Science Magazine Mar. 27, 2019

Using x-ray diffraction data produced by Rosalind Franklin, they were the first to discern the structure of DNA that is so crucial to life.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

In this way, they can look at the molecular properties and x-ray diffraction patterns of the silk as it is produced.

From The Guardian Jan. 12, 2013

The Galisonian approach in the form of x-ray diffraction and NMR has been spectacularly successful in the application of chemistry to biological systems that culminated in the advent of molecular biology in the twentieth century.

From Scientific American Dec. 20, 2012

Using many advanced techniques, including X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, they determined the elemental distribution and crystallinity of each of the films.

From Science Daily May 16, 2024

Using time-resolved X-ray diffraction experiments they then took ultrafast snapshots of how the atoms and spins moved in response to the excitation.

From Science Daily Nov. 28, 2023

Firing X-rays at the powder and measuring them as they bounced off — a process known as X-ray diffraction — allowed the team to work out its structure.

From Scientific American Feb. 7, 2023

X-ray diffraction was crucial to Crick, Watson, and Wilkins in the determination of the shape of the double-helix DNA molecule.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

So I began worrying about where I could learn how to solve X-ray diffraction pictures.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

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