In X-ray diffraction, what is the virtual source?

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SUMMARY

In X-ray diffraction, the concept of a virtual source refers to the apparent origin of the X-ray beam as it appears to emanate from the direction of the diffracted beam when extended backward. This differs from the real source, which is the actual origin of the incident beam. The discussion clarifies that the virtual source is a conceptual tool borrowed from optics, helping to visualize the behavior of X-rays during diffraction experiments.

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  • Knowledge of incident and diffracted beam behavior
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weeman203
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In X-ray diffraction, during the experiment a X-ray beam will create an incident and diffracted beam, but what exactly is the virtual source? I may be mistaken but isn't the source the incident beam, in the attached image, it seems to suggest otherwise?
 

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I expect that they are borrowing the concept from optics. The virtual source is the apparent source ie. An xray source. located where the xrays appear to be coming from if one extended the diffracted beam back . The incident beam comes from the real source.

AM
 

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