Is Bragg Diffraction Depicted Accurately in Common Diagrams?

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    Bragg Diffraction
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The discussion centers on the accuracy of common diagrams depicting Bragg diffraction in acousto-optics. Participants express confusion over whether the angle of incidence should equal the angle of reflection when the Bragg condition is met. Some argue that if the angles were always equal, it would contradict the principles of X-ray crystallography, which relies on satisfying the Bragg criterion. Others reference additional diagrams that appear to show equal angles, further complicating the understanding. Ultimately, the consensus leans towards the possibility that the diagram in question may be incorrectly illustrated.
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Hi. So I am studying a bit on acousto-optics and as far as I've gathered, when the Bragg condition is met, the incident ray of light should just be reflected (in a perfect case) with the angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence.
However, this picture does not agree with my thoughts: http://www.mt-berlin.com/pict_0/fig1ao.gif

Is it correct? I mean the Bragg diffraction. The picture clearly suggests that the incidence and reflection angles need not be equal..
 
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Gytax said:
Hi. So I am studying a bit on acousto-optics and as far as I've gathered, when the Bragg condition is met, the incident ray of light should just be reflected (in a perfect case) with the angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence.
However, this picture does not agree with my thoughts: http://www.mt-berlin.com/pict_0/fig1ao.gif

Is it correct? I mean the Bragg diffraction. The picture clearly suggests that the incidence and reflection angles need not be equal..
If they were always equal, I think that X Ray crystallography would not work. All that's necessary is for the Bragg criterion to be satisfied.
 
sophiecentaur said:
If they were always equal, I think that X Ray crystallography would not work. All that's necessary is for the Bragg criterion to be satisfied.
Hmm, but there's plenty of pictures like these: http://skuld.bmsc.washington.edu/~merritt/bc530/bragg/index_files/BraggDeriv.gif . They seem to suggest that the angles are in fact equal. I am really confused right now.
 
Can you not get different orders for the incoming and outgoing beam? Perhaps not. The Bragg equation doesn't suggest that you can.
The most likely answer is that the diagram you are looking at is just drawn wrong.
 
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