1. Any redistribution in space of the intensity of waves that results from the presence of an object causing variations of either the amplitude or phase of the waves: Diffraction is a phenomenon of all electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves; microwaves; infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light; and X-rays.
2. Etymology: from French diffraction or directly from Modern Latin diffractionem, diffractio, a noun of action from the past participle stem of Latin diffringere, "to break in pieces"; from dis-, "apart" + frangere, "to break".

The change in the directions and intensities of a group of waves of electrons when they pass through crystalline matter: Electron diffraction is useful in the study of the structures of materials.

Electron diffraction refers to the bending of electromagnetic waves as they pass around corners or through holes smaller than the wavelengths of the waves themselves.

The occurrence or the technique of producing electron diffractions through the incidence of electrons on matter.

The bending of an electron stream which occurs when the electron diffraction travels through a medium; such as, very thin metal foil.

1. The study of crystal structure by electron-diffraction methods.
2. The diffraction of electrons when they pass through crystalline matter, useful in the study of the structure of materials.
3. An examination of solid surfaces by observing the diffraction of a stream of electrons on the surfaces.

A diffraction is the bending or spreading out of waves; such as, of sound or light, as they pass around the edge of an obstacle or through a narrow opening as when light passes sharp edges or goes through narrow slits and the rays are deflected and produce fringes of light and dark bands.

1. A camera used to obtain a photographic record of the position and intensity of diffracted beams which may be produced when a specimen is irradiated by a beam of electrons.
2. A special evacuated camera equipped with the means for holding a specimen and bombarding it with a sharply focused beam of electrons.

A cylindrical film placed around a specimen and which records the electrons that might be scattered or diffracted by it.

An instrument for x-ray analysis of crystal structure and measuring wavelengths of X-rays and gamma rays, in which a homogeneous beam of X-rays is directed on the known face of a crystal and the reflected beam is detected in a suitably placed ionization chamber.