To know the importance of their work it is important to realise the state of knowledge at their time. It was not confirmed that solids consisted of atoms, let alone the distance between the atoms in solids. It was not known what "X-rays" consisted of (hence the name). It was realised by Ewald and von Laue that the X-rays can be used to measure the distance between the atoms in solids. Laue got the first XRD patterns, but misinterpreted it as he assumed that the X-rays were monochromatic.
Father W.H. Bragg thought that the X-rays were particles and they could channel through the regular spaces in crystals. It was the son W.L. Bragg who used the wave nature of X-rays and provided the explanation of the XRD that we know today. He corrected von Laue's interpretation and gave the simplistic explanation of specular reflection of X-rays from atomic planes.
They provided us with an invaluable analytical tool which scientists use in their day-to-day life. This tool is invaluable for solid state physicists, material scientists, biologists, and engineers in many different branches.
Rightly explained by Dr. Abhinav but I would like to add something. Most of us are familiar with the simple formula of Braggs's Law i.e. 2d sin theta=n lamda, but this is not the original or primary Bragg's law, it is secondary law. The original Bragg's law is that "for every diffracted beam there exists a set of crystal lattice planes such that the diffracted beams appear to be specularly (mirror like) reflected from these planes " i.e. these crystal planes are imagined as mirrors from which these X-rays are reflected. In a nutshell it can be said that he considered "diffraction as a reflection" which led to the simplicity of explanation of the crystal structure. Bragg did not give a new fact because X rays were not discovered by him they were discovered by Roentgen, X ray diffraction was discovered by Von Laue however Laue could not solve a single crystal structure and misinterpreted his results due to lack of explanation. So the important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them...W.L Bragg. Hence Bragg thought of diffraction in a new way as a mirror like reflection from these crystal planes with the help of which we are able to explain the crystal structure with simplicity.
To know the importance of their work it is important to realise the state of knowledge at their time. It was not confirmed that solids consisted of atoms, let alone the distance between the atoms in solids. It was not known what "X-rays" consisted of (hence the name). It was realised by Ewald and von Laue that the X-rays can be used to measure the distance between the atoms in solids. Laue got the first XRD patterns, but misinterpreted it as he assumed that the X-rays were monochromatic.
Father W.H. Bragg thought that the X-rays were particles and they could channel through the regular spaces in crystals. It was the son W.L. Bragg who used the wave nature of X-rays and provided the explanation of the XRD that we know today. He corrected von Laue's interpretation and gave the simplistic explanation of specular reflection of X-rays from atomic planes.
They provided us with an invaluable analytical tool which scientists use in their day-to-day life. This tool is invaluable for solid state physicists, material scientists, biologists, and engineers in many different branches.
Rightly explained by Dr. Abhinav but I would like to add something. Most of us are familiar with the simple formula of Braggs's Law i.e. 2d sin theta=n lamda, but this is not the original or primary Bragg's law, it is secondary law. The original Bragg's law is that "for every diffracted beam there exists a set of crystal lattice planes such that the diffracted beams appear to be specularly (mirror like) reflected from these planes " i.e. these crystal planes are imagined as mirrors from which these X-rays are reflected. In a nutshell it can be said that he considered "diffraction as a reflection" which led to the simplicity of explanation of the crystal structure. Bragg did not give a new fact because X rays were not discovered by him they were discovered by Roentgen, X ray diffraction was discovered by Von Laue however Laue could not solve a single crystal structure and misinterpreted his results due to lack of explanation. So the important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them...W.L Bragg. Hence Bragg thought of diffraction in a new way as a mirror like reflection from these crystal planes with the help of which we are able to explain the crystal structure with simplicity.