Bragg Law and Effect of Doubling Wavelength

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    Bragg Law Wavelength
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Bragg's Law and the implications of doubling the wavelength on the observed angles of maxima in diffraction patterns. Participants explore the mathematical relationships involved and seek to predict the new angles at which maxima would be observed after this change.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that according to Bragg's Law, the condition for maxima is given by dsinθ = mλ, and questions how to predict the new angles when the wavelength is doubled.
  • Another participant suggests that if the wavelength is doubled while keeping m and d constant, then sinθ would also double, implying a straightforward calculation for the new angles.
  • A participant calculates sin(20.5) and finds that doubling this value leads to sin(44.5), but encounters an issue when attempting to double sin(44.5), resulting in a value greater than 1, raising questions about the validity of taking the sine inverse.
  • There is a query about whether this situation implies that there is only one maxima at 44.5 degrees for the doubled wavelength, suggesting a potential loss of an equivalent maximum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the implications of doubling the wavelength on the maxima, with some agreeing on the mathematical approach while others question the outcomes and the existence of multiple maxima.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved mathematical steps regarding the implications of the sine function exceeding 1, and the discussion does not clarify the full range of possible maxima after the wavelength change.

elemis
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My lecturer discussed bragg's law a few weeks ago and described how the angle theta changes as the wavelength is doubled.

I can't seem to duplicate his result.

I know that the bragg condition for a maxima would reduce to : dsinθ=mλ when the wavelength is doubled.

In his example he knew that maxima were observed at 20.5 and 44.5 degrees but he gave no other values.

How would I go about predicting the angles at which the maximas are now observed ?
 
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If you double λ and m and d stay constant, sinθ doubles as well. You can calculate sinθ in your example.
 
mfb said:
If you double λ and m and d stay constant, sinθ doubles as well. You can calculate sinθ in your example.

True, so sin(20.5) = 0.3502... This multiplied by 2 gives : 0.700... Sin inverse of this gives 44.5 degrees.

But if I double sin(44.5) I get a value larger than 1. How is it possible to take the sine inverse of this ?

EDIT : Does this imply there is only one maxima now at 44.5 degrees ?
 
elemis said:
EDIT : Does this imply there is only one maxima now at 44.5 degrees ?
The 44.5-maximum has no equivalent for the doubled wavelength, right.
 

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