ScienceJuly 13, 2026
diffraction
/dɪˈfrækʃən/
Definition
The process by which waves, such as light, bend, spread, or interfere as they pass around an obstacle or through a narrow opening.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'diffringere', meaning 'to break apart or into pieces'. It entered English in the 17th century to describe the wave-like behavior of light as it deviates from a straight path.
In the news
In the article, diffraction is identified as the physical mechanism that causes light to bend around a circular object, which creates the Poisson spot. This phenomenon serves as the fundamental basis for generating the stable light structures known as optical skyrmions.
A 200-year-old physics experiment could help build future computers
Read the full article ↗ScienceDaily