diffraction

The bending of a wave around an obstacle.

Noun

  1. The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
  2. The breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure (e.g. a slit), followed by reconstruction of the wave by interference.

Origin

From New Latin diffrāctiō (in which coined by Francesco Maria Grimaldi), from Latin diffrāctus, past participle of Latin diffringo (“to shatter, to break into pieces”). Coined in Physico-mathesis de lumine (1665) by Francesco Maria Grimaldi.

Forms

diffractions

Derived

diffraction grating diffractionist diffractionless diffraction limit diffraction pattern microdiffraction neutron diffraction subdiffraction transmission electron diffraction X-ray diffraction