Electron diffraction is a technique used to examine solids by firing a beam of electrons at a sample and observing their deflection. The electrons are deflected not as particles but as waves, as in classical diffraction (see Wave-particle duality). Properties The electron (also called negatron, commonly represented as e−) is a subatomic particle. ... A particle is Look up Particle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In particle physics, a basic unit of matter or energy. ... Jump to: navigation, search A wave is a disturbance that propagates in a periodically repeating fashion, often transferring energy. ... Jump to: navigation, search Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves when they meet an obstruction. ... Jump to: navigation, search In physics, wave-particle duality holds that light and matter can exhibit properties of both waves and of particles. ...

The technique is only used on crystal samples that have a regularly spaced atomic lattice. Most electron diffraction is performed with high energy electrons whose wavelengths are orders of magnitude smaller than the interplanar spacings in most crystals. For example, for 100 keV electrons λ < 3.7 x 10^-12 m. Typical lattice parameters for crystals are around 0.3 nm. Quartz crystal A crystal is a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regularly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. ... Jump to: navigation, search The ordinary meaning of lattice is the basis for several technical usages A cherry lattice pastry A mathematical lattice that is a type of partially ordered set. ... An electronvolt (symbol: eV) is the amount of energy gained by a single unbound electron when it falls through an electrostatic potential difference of one volt. ... Properties The electron (also called negatron, commonly represented as e−) is a subatomic particle. ... A nanometre (American spelling: nanometer) is 1. ...

The electrons are scattered by interaction with the positively charged atomic nuclei. Electrons are charged, light particles which interact very strongly with solids so their penetration is very limited. Low-energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) are therefore considered to be surface science techniques, while transmission electron diffraction is limited to specimens less than 1mm thick. Transmission electron diffraction is usually carried out in a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Jump to: navigation, search A stylized representation of a lithium atom. ... LEED acronym stands for Low Energy Electron diffraction, and is a method used for making crystal structures visible. ... RHEED stands for Reflection High Energy Electron diffraction. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an imaging technique whereby a beam of electrons is focused onto a specimen causing an enlarged version to appear on a fluorescent screen or layer of photographic film (see electron microscope), or can be detected by a CCD camera. ...

The technique is somewhat similar to Neutron diffraction. Jump to: navigation, search Neutron diffraction is a crystallography technique that uses neutrons to determine the atomic structure of a material. ...

See also

• Electron
• Gas electron diffraction