BASICS OF CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND DIFFRACTION - 2ND ED

The present book provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the topics of crystallography and diffraction for undergraduate and beginning graduate students and lecturers in physics, chemistry, materials and earth sciences, but will also be of interest to the layperson who wishes to know about these topics beyond the level given in more general trade science books. The book shows how crystal structures may be built up from simple ideas of atomic packing and co-ordination, and develops the concepts of crystal symmetry, point and space groups by way of two-dimensional examples of patterns and tilings. Furthermore, the concept of the reciprocal lattice is explained in simple terms and its importance in an understanding of light, x-ray and electron diffraction shown. Finally, the book covers practical examples of the applications of these techniques, and describes the importance of diffraction in the performance of optical instruments.