5. Conclusion

In this dossier you'll find some basic information on particle-atom interactions, and more specifically electron-atom interactions. We have given the general method for calculating a wave after scattering (phase relations). The scattering factor (scattering length) is used to calculate the collision cross-section, which is directly related to the intensities recorded experimentally.

Assemblies of atoms (crystals) have been briefly introduced. A complete treatment would require the use of group theory.

The particle-crystal interaction allows us to trace atomic arrangements back to the intensities obtained experimentally. What we've introduced in this dossier will be useful for this next step. .