roughly speaking, historically, Q=2pi/d is used by physicists and
S=1/d used by crystallographers and these communities define their
reciprocal lattices and Fourier transforms accordingly.  With the 2pi
in there, Q is the momentum transfer.  Without it in there the Laue
Equations are much cleaner.

Physicists are good at working in reduced units, like setting c=1.  We
can resolve the problem by setting 2pi=1!

S

On 2/21/07, Ray Osborn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
On 2007/02/21 9:06, "Jonathan Wright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> 2pi/d just needs a better name than Q?

I guess, to some extent, this debate depends on whether you are only
interested in talking to other powder diffraction specialists.  As a
non-specialist, I would suggest that Q is a more widely used variable -
certainly in the inelastic scattering community, but also I believe in the
liquids and amorphous community, who might be interested in studying
crystallization processes, for example.

If I want to check the elastic scattering contained within my inelastic
spectrum, it is certainly an inconvenience having to convert from two-theta,
even assuming I know the wavelength.  I certainly hope you don't settle on
10^4/d^2.

Regards,
Ray
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Materials Science Division   Fax: +1 (630) 252-7777
Argonne National Laboratory  E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Argonne, IL 60439-4845






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