Theory of the Effect of Temperature on the Reflection of X-Rays by Crystals. I. Isotropic Crystals

Abstract

A short derivation of the Debye-Waller temperature factor in the reflection of x-rays from isotropic crystals is given. This short derivation clearly brings out the assumptions involved and paves the way for the extension of the theory to the more complex case of anisotropic crystals. One of the authors will give this extension in a subsequent paper.