X-ray photons have micron-scale penetration depths into solids which means that X-ray diffraction is not an inherently surface-sensitive technique. Low energy electrons, however, have penetration depths (mean free paths) of the order of a few lattice spacings of the solid (see Section 6.1) and are therefore more suited to surface diffraction. However, certain experimental geometries may be used to dramatically increase the surface sensitivty of the X-ray diffraction technique.

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