The Basics of Crystallography and Diffraction

Crystals and crystal structure; two-dimensional patterns, lattices, and symmetry; bravais lattices and crystal systems; crystal symmetry, point groups, and crystal structures: the external symmetry of crystals; describing lattice planes and directions in crystals - miller indices and zone axis symbols; the reciprocal lattice; the diffraction of light; X-ray diffraction: the contributions of M. von Laue, W.H. and W.L. Bragg, and P.P. Ewald; the diffraction of X-rays and electrons; X-rays and electron diffraction of polycrystalline materials; appendix 1 - useful components for a crystallography model-building kit and suppliers; appendix 2 - computer programs in crystallography; appendix 3 - biographical notes on crystallographers and scientists mentioned in the text; appendix 4 - some useful crystallographic relationships; appendix 5 - a simple introduction to vectors and complex numbers and their uses in crystallography; appendix 6 - systematic absences (extinctions) in X-ray diffraction and double diffraction in electron diffraction patterns; answers to exercises; further reading.