Kiessig fringe Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
A Kiessig fringe is an oscillation in reflected intensity caused by wave interference between contributions from the two sides of a thin film. For specular neutron scattering at grazing angle and wavelength , the normal wave vector transfer is . Well above the critical edge, a film of thickness contributes a relative wave phase approximately , giving fringe spacing
Thus closely spaced fringes indicate a thicker film. As a calculated example, spacing corresponds to about . Interface surface roughness, contrast, additional layers and instrumental resolution affect the fringe pattern; thickness is inferred with an appropriate reflectivity model, especially near the critical edge.[ref]