Question

Applications and limitations of laue method

Answer 1

Laue Method:
The Laue method is of special interest because it was the first of many methods developed for the study of X-ray diffraction by crystals, Many of the early determinations of cell dimensions and crystal symmetry and some early studies of crystal structure were made using this method. 
However they also demonstrated the intrinsic limitations of this method when applied to crystal structure determination. These limitations arise from the difficulty of knowing the exact wavelength and the intensity of the part of the incident radiation that caused the observed Laue spot. Thus the Laue method was reduced to an aid in determining crystal orientation and crystal perfection. 
However, the Laue method still widely used in metallography , when it is necessary to analyze crystals or determine orientation of highly absorbent materials.

Answer 2

Laue method of diffraction is used for the determination of the orientation of crystals that are large and single. It was the first method of diffraction that was used.

White coloured radiation, from an X-ray, is transmitted or reflected from a crystal by 2 methods – Transmission Laue method and Back-reflection Laue method.

The advantages of using Laue method of diffraction are that it is used for checking the orientation of crystals and their quality. It can be used for analyzing specimens that are thick and large.

The limitations of using this method are that it cannot be used for quantitative analysis because the wavelength of the X-ray beam that is causing a specific spot is unknown. Also, it requires a large crystal for analysis.