361: Crystallography and Diffraction

Elementary crystallography. Basic diffraction theory; reciprocal space. Applications to structure analysis, preferred orientation. Point and 2D Detector techniques. Lectures, laboratory. Prerequisites: GEN ENG 205 4; PHYSICS 135 2,3. Mathematics including Calculus 1-3 and Linear Algebra will be required.
At the conclusion of the course students will be able to:
  1. Identify different types of crystal structures and symmetry elements such as space groups, point symmetry and glide planes that occur in metals, ceramics, and polymers.
  2. Perform standard x-ray diffraction measurements on metals, ceramics and polymers and quantitatively determine lattice constants, grain size, texture, and strain in bulk crystals and epitaxial films.
  3. Describe the basic particle and wave physical processes underlying x-ray emission, elastic and inelastic scattering, absorption, and interference of coherent waves.
  4. Identify symmetry elements in (point, translation) in 2D and 3D patterns and crystals.
  5. Describe basic principles underlying synchrotron x-ray sources, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and electron and neutron diffraction.
  6. Use reciprocal space graphical constructions and vector algebra to interpret diffraction from 3D and 2D single crystals, and random and textured polycrystalline samples.