ELECTRON AND MICROWAVE BRAGG DIFFRATION

Author List: Luke Waldo, Danika Kahatipitiya

(Dated: April 5 2019)
ABSTRACT
Electrons were accelerated through a potential difference (kV) and scattered from
graphite powder at one end of an evacuated sphere. The electrons were observed as they struck
the fluorescent coating on the opposite side of the sphere. Two rings were observed and each of
their diameters was recorded. This process was repeated for 8 different potential differences.
Next a microwave emitter passed microwaves through a “crystal” of ball bearings embedded in
Styrofoam. The microwaves were then received at the microwave detector. The Styrofoam and
the detector were both moved at various angles (º) where peaks were then measured. This was
repeated for both (100) and (110) planes.
INTRODUCTION difference is given by 2dsin(θ) where d in
the distance between planes and θ is the
In 1924, French physicist proposed angle between the incident wave and the
that particles observe to have wavelike plane (Fig. 1). Constructive interference
particles. It was proposed that “to each occurs when the path length difference is
portion of energy with a proper mass m0, equal to an integer multiple of the
one may associate a periodic phenomenon of wavelength i.e. 2dsin(θ)=nλ.
frequency ν0, such that one finds
hν0 = m0c2”[1]. He used this theory to Fig. 1 Diagram of Incident Electron Matter Waves.
propose that much like light, the electron has
wave-like properties in addition to its
particle-like properties. This lead to the
famous de Broglie relation which states 𝜆 =
ℎ
[1]. This relationship was the motivating
𝑝 Specifically, for the graphite powder a half
factor behind performing experiments like angle, α, was calculated such that α=2θ.
these. One of the first times this result was Graphite powder is composed of carbon
experimentally confirmed was the Davisson- atoms arranged in adjacent hexagonal
Germer experiment which was conducted structures such to create a crystalline like
between 1923 and 1927. After multiple lattice. (Fig. 2)
attempts, Davisson was able to generate a
strong constructive interference peak by Fig 2. Model of Graphite Crystalline Lattice
scattering electrons off of a single nickel
crystal [2].
THEORY
Experiment #1 Electron Diffraction
Bragg Diffraction occurs when the
electron’s matter wave scatters off of the
graphite powder’s lattice. This is because
the lattice spacing is comparable to the
wavelength of the electron. The path length
The electron’s scatter off of the (100) plane
and the (110) plane and form the inner/outer
ring respectively. The (100) plane distance
can be calculated to be 2.13Å while the
(110) plane is 1.23Å. Additionally, Fig. 3
was used to help calculate the half angle α as
𝑠
𝛼 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ).
𝑠
2(𝑅+√𝑅 2 −( )2 )
2
Fig. 3 Geometric Model to Assist α Calculation
Then, wavelengths for both the inner and
outer ring could be calculated using the
2𝑑 sin(1/2𝛼)
equation 𝜆 = where n is set equal
𝑛
to 1. Also, momentum was calculated from
𝑝2
the given accelerating potential as 𝑒𝑉 = 2𝑚
where p is the momentum, eV is the
accelerating potential (electron volts) and m
is the mass of an electron.
Experiment #2 Microwave Bragg
Diffraction
Bragg’s Law, 2dsin(θ)=nλ, was used to
calculate the angles at which there would be
constructive interference. Here, d represents
the spacing between the ball bearings in the
crystal like Styrofoam and λ represents the
wave length of the microwave emitter.
Microwaves were emitted at a frequency of
10.5 GHz which can be converted into
𝑐 momentum giving Fig. 4.
wavelength using 𝜆 = 𝜈 where λ the
wavelength, c is the speed of light, and ν is
the frequency of the wave.
EXPERIMENT
Experiment #1 Electron Diffraction
Electrons were scattered through a
crystalline structure of graphite powder after
being accelerated through eight different
potential differences. When they hit the end
of an evacuated sphere, two green
fluorescent rings were visible in a reduced
light setting. A measurement of both rings’
diameters was taken and then the potential
was changed. A total of 16 different
wavelengths were obtained from this
process (8 for each ring).
Experiment #2 Microwave Bragg
Diffraction
The emitter and detector were placed
directly across from one another. The
Crystal was then placed in between in such a
way that the (100) planes were parallel to
the incident microwaves. The Crystal was
then rotated to our calculated angle at which
constructive interference was predicted. A θ
scan was then performed to measure the top
of the peak, as well as the drop off on either
side. The crystal was rotated in 1º
increments and intensity was recorded. Then
the detector was rotated in 1º increments and
intensity was recorded. The same process
was then repeated with the (110) planes
parallel to the incident microwaves.
ANALYSIS
Experiment #1 Electron Diffraction
After collecting 16 diameters, the
wavelengths were calculated. These
wavelengths were then plotted against
 Fig. 4 Graph of Wavelength vs. Momentum Experiment #2 Microwave Bragg
Diffraction
After rotating both the crystal and detector
from both the (100) and (110) planes, Fig. 6-
9 were obtained.
Fig. 6 Peak Intensity of θ (100)

Next, the wavelengths were plotted against

inverse momentum, which yielded Fig 5.
Fig. 7 Peak Intensity of 2θ (100)
Fig. 5 Graph of Wavelength vs. Inverse Momentum

Fig. 8 Peak Intensity of θ (110)

The trends of the graphs are as expected

because according to the de Brogllie
ℎ
wavelength, 𝜆 = 𝑝 i.e. momentum and
wavelength are inversely proportional. The
fit value of h, plank’s constant, from the
second graph was calculated on MATLAB
to be 7.24x10-34 ± 6.6554x10-36 m2kg/s. This
was a total of 9.22 standard deviations away
from the accepted value of plank’s constant.
 Fig. 9 Peak Intensity of 2θ (110)

It can be seen that each of these graphs,

which represent peak intensities at certain
angles are Gaussians. From the graphs,
measured θ (crystal angle) and 2θ (detector
angle) could be read off and compared with
the predicted values for θ and 2θ.
The results were:
Predicted θ (100): 22.17º±0.0031º
Measured θ (100): 21.094º±0.0741º
Measured 2θ (100): 47.876º±0.1297º
Predicted θ (110): 32.01º±0.0665º
Measured θ (110): 31.812º±0.0848
Measured 2θ (110): 63.762º±0.2159º
From these measurements support the
conclusion that electrons have wave like
properties. Using Bragg’s law, theoretical
peak intensity angles were calculated and
the results correlate with those calculated
values.

[1] L.V. de Broglie, Ann. de Phys., 10e serie, ´ t. III

Janvier-F evrier ´ (1925).

[2] C.J. Davisson and L.H. Germer, Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America 14(4): 317-322 (1928)