The Intensity of X-ray Reflection from Powdered Crystals

Abstract

IN the May number of the Philosophical Magazine which has just reached us, Mr. C. G. Darwin has presented a most valuable discussion of the reflection of X-rays from imperfect crystals. He shows that, on account of the difficulty in determining the effective extinction coefficient of the X-rays in such crystals, it is very difficult to calculate with accuracy the intensity of the reflected beam. Hence he is unable to make a satisfactory comparison between the theoretical formulæ and the existing experiments on the intensity of X-ray reflection. This result is in general agreement with the conclusion reached by one of us (Physical Review, July 1917) on the basis of somewhat similar considerations.