The Structure of Atoms from Diffraction Studies

A method is given for obtaining the electron distribution in atoms from diffraction data which makes use of the fact that the distribution function is positive. The property of positiveness affords a basis for extrapolating the scattering data which are determined experimentally over only a finite range. This extrapolation is needed since the formula relating the electron distribution to the scattering function requires that the latter be known over an infinite range. A procedure for the extrapolation is given and the nature of the error is discussed.