A modification which light (or electron,
neutron beams, etc.) undergoes in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow
slits or in being reflected from ruled surfaces (or crystalline materials). The light
waves, owing to their wave-like nature appear to be deflected and produce fringes
of parallel light and dark bands corresponding to regions of constructive reinforcement
or destructive interference, respectively, of the waves.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167
(Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990))
on page 2184
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
