x-ray diffraction

American  

noun

Physics.

1. diffraction of x-rays by the regularly spaced atoms of a crystal, useful for determining the arrangement of the atoms.

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X-ray diffraction British  

noun

1. the scattering of X-rays on contact with matter, resulting in changes in radiation intensity, which is used for studying atomic structure

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x-ray diffraction Scientific  

1. The scattering of x-rays by crystal atoms, producing a diffraction pattern that yields information about the structure of the crystal. X-ray diffraction is used in x-ray crystallography.

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Etymology

Origin of x-ray diffraction

First recorded in 1940–45