Using x-rays to see atoms

Mark Sutton

X-rays through a process called diffraction can be used to observe the positions of atoms in a crystal. In the early 1900's, this gave the most direct experimental evidence that materials are made of atoms. In this talk I will explain diffraction and how it can be used to see the very-very small. This technique is still in use and has been used to measure many things from simple structures like salt (NaCl) to very large biological molecules such at the molecular structure of the cold virus