Diffraction

Diffraction depends on the size of the wavelength and is stronger the bigger this is in comparison to the width of the obstacle or opening (e.g. aperture). A diffraction spectrum is created when white light passes through an aperture and on a diffraction grating.

Diffraction in optics

With light diffraction the observable diffraction maxima and diffraction minima are in different positions for light of different wavelengths. However, this then enables the splitting up of light into its spectral colours through a diffraction aperture. Like a crystal, with regular atomic structures the diffraction of light yields a so-called diffraction grating which in turn enables the calculation of the atomic distances in crystal.