With crystals we are in a situation similar to an attempt…
“With crystals we are in a situation similar to an attempt to investigate an optical grating merely from the spectra it produces... But a knowledge of the positions and intensities of the spectra does not suffice for the determination of the structure. The phases with which the diffracted waves vibrate relative to one another enter in an essential way. To determine a crystal structure on the atomic scale, one must know the phase differences between the different interference spots on the photographic plate, and this task may certainly prove to be rather difficult.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Understanding crystal structures requires both amplitude and phase information from diffraction patterns; amplitudes alone are insufficient.
In simple terms: Both intensity and phase are needed to reveal atomic arrangements.
Key Takeaway
Measure phase as well as intensity.
Themes
physics
crystallography
measurement
science
methodology
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
scientific
technical
When to use this quote
- Materials research
- electron microscopy
- X‑ray crystallography
- nanotechnology
Key Concepts
Fourier analysis
inverse problem
wave interference
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we infer phase without direct measurement?
- What alternative techniques bypass the phase problem?
A Different Perspective
Phase information is hard to obtain directly, often requiring indirect methods.