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Our condition for scattering is based on the idea that the amplitude of the outcoming wave is maximal, when all atoms contribute to a constructive interference. By using the attached drawing a simple relationship between the phase change of the two beams are derived. But my, maybe stupid, question is: Why do these beams interact? After all they travel through quite different points in space?
So I thought well, actually to draw a beam is misleading, because what happens in x-ray diffraction is that plane waves hit the crystal(I would think so at least). But still based on this, the wavefront is spread out in space, so why is it that everywhere on the wavefront, where constructive interference occurs, should somehow contribute to a total amplification of the wave?
I am probably misunderstanding some things here. Maybe the relative size of the wave compared to the crystal has something to say...
So I thought well, actually to draw a beam is misleading, because what happens in x-ray diffraction is that plane waves hit the crystal(I would think so at least). But still based on this, the wavefront is spread out in space, so why is it that everywhere on the wavefront, where constructive interference occurs, should somehow contribute to a total amplification of the wave?
I am probably misunderstanding some things here. Maybe the relative size of the wave compared to the crystal has something to say...