How can there be interference of light rays in Bragg's law

In summary, Bragg's law is based on the path length difference between light that is scattered from atoms in a crystal and interferes with itself. Images of this phenomenon show two parallel light rays being scattered from two different atoms. The interference between these parallel rays occurs when the wave front spreads perpendicular to the direction of movement indicated by the line in the images.
  • #1
tsopa
7
0
As we know, Bragg's law is based on the path length difference between light which interfere with themselves after being scattered from atoms in the crystal.
If you google "Bragg's law", you will see numbers of pictures showing two light rays being scattered from two different atoms. Those two light rays are PARALLEL to each other.
How can those scattered light (which are parallel to each other) interfere with each other? And where does the interference happen?
 
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  • #2
I got it. Nover mind :D
 
  • #3
Please explain for me
 
  • #4
yeah, this ray is not a single line. This line represents only the direction of movement of wave front. A wave front spreads perpendicular to that line.
 

1. How does Bragg's law explain the interference of light rays?

Bragg's law is a mathematical equation that describes the interference pattern seen when light waves are diffracted by a crystal lattice. It states that when the angle of incidence of a light ray is equal to the angle of reflection, the waves will constructively interfere, resulting in a bright spot. If the angles are not equal, the waves will destructively interfere, resulting in a dark spot.

2. What is the relationship between the wavelength of light and the spacing of crystal planes in Bragg's law?

According to Bragg's law, the spacing between crystal planes (d) is inversely proportional to the wavelength of light (λ). This means that as the wavelength of light increases, the spacing between crystal planes decreases.

3. How is Bragg's law used in X-ray crystallography?

Bragg's law is a fundamental principle in X-ray crystallography, which is a technique used to determine the atomic and molecular structure of crystals. In this technique, a beam of X-rays is directed at a crystal, and the resulting diffraction pattern is analyzed using Bragg's law to determine the arrangement of atoms within the crystal.

4. Can Bragg's law be applied to other types of waves besides light?

Yes, Bragg's law can be applied to any type of wave that exhibits diffraction, including sound waves, electron waves, and X-rays. The only requirement is that the wavelength of the wave must be similar in size to the spacing of the diffracting objects.

5. What are the limitations of Bragg's law?

Bragg's law assumes that the crystal lattice is perfect and infinite, which is not always the case in real crystals. It also assumes that the incident waves are perfectly parallel, which may not be true in all cases. Additionally, it only applies to regular crystal lattices and cannot be used to analyze amorphous materials.

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