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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.

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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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of x-ray diffraction

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Working with the molecules, he combined state-of-the-art experimental techniques including time-resolved in situ atomic-force microscopy at near-molecular resolution, x-ray diffraction, absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microcopy.

From Science Daily • Feb. 5, 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

The process is called x-ray diffraction, because it involves the diffraction and interference of x rays to produce patterns that can be analyzed for information about the structures that scattered the x rays.

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

Starting with Watson and Crick’s solution of the structure of DNA, x-ray diffraction basically helped formulate the theory of nucleic acid and protein structure.

From Scientific American • Dec. 20, 2012