microdiffraction
MY-kroh-dih-FRAK-shun
Definition
A high-resolution imaging and analysis technique used to determine the atomic structure of microscopic crystals or materials.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'mikros' meaning small, combined with the Latin 'dis' meaning apart and 'frangere' meaning to break; it refers to the scattering of light or X-rays into a specific pattern that reveals microscopic structures.
In the news
The article describes how researchers used X-ray microdiffraction to observe the growth of crystals inside ancient Roman concrete cores, revealing how the material heals itself over centuries.
Roman concrete piers built two thousand years ago along the Mediterranean coast are stronger now than the day they were poured, because seawater seeping into the volcanic ash mix triggers the slow growth of a rare crystal called aluminous tobermorite tha
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com