The Interactive Ewald Sphere 3D Tutorial

By Katie Tlusty, Paul Bond, K Cowtan

Welcome to the 3D Ewald sphere tutorial! The aim of this tutorial is to learn about the Ewald sphere, and how it explains X-ray diffraction patterns. The tutorial uses an interactive tool, the 'Ewald sphere 3D applet'. It builds on concepts from the 2D Ewald sphere tutorial.

This tool is designed to support learning as part of a formal taught course in X-ray crystallography, and is provided here so that anyone can incorporate it in their teaching materials. It was not designed for self-directed learning, but may be useful as a reinforcement activity in some cases.

The applet window

Exercises

  1. Cubic unit cell diffraction.
  2. Cubic unit cell diffraction (large cell).
  3. Diffraction from an tetragonal crystal.
  4. Cubic unit cell powder diffraction.
  5. General unit cell powder diffraction.

Back to my YSBL page.

Kevin Cowtan: