New Book Available for Review: The Basics of Crystallography and Diffraction: 3rd Edition, by Christopher Hammond, University of Leeds, UK
If you would like to review the new book listed below, please email the Editor Dr Julian Heath giving your Reader Number, your full address and brief details of your qualifications as a reviewer of the book you have chosen. We would like a 600 word review from you and in return you get to keep the book. See the existing book reviews for examples of our Book Review style. If you are not sure if you are qualified to review the content of any of these books, go to the publisher's or any book reseller's websites where you can usually read the contents and index.
The Basics of Crystallography and Diffraction, 3rd Edition
Christopher Hammond, University of Leeds, UK
ISBN 978-0-19-954644-2 - Hardback 432 pages - Published by Oxford University Press 2009
Information from Publisher's website:
Description
This book provides a clear introduction to topics which are essential to students in a wide range of scientific disciplines but which are otherwise only covered in specialised and mathematically detailed texts. It shows how crystal structures may be built up from simple ideas of atomic packing and co-ordination, it develops the concepts of crystal symmetry, point and space groups by way of two dimensional examples of patterns and tilings, it explains the concept of the reciprocal lattice in simple terms and shows its importance in an understanding of light, X-ray and electron diffraction. Practical examples of the applications of these techniques are described and also the importance of diffraction in the performance of optical instruments.
The book is also of value to the general reader since it shows, by biographical and historical references, how the subject has developed and thereby indicates some of the excitement of scientific discovery.
Features
Covers the basics of crystallography and diffraction at an introductory level appropriate to the needs of students
Makes difficult and abstruse topics 'crystal clear'
Makes use of familiar and everyday examples in the explanations of symmetry and diffraction
Describes X-ray and electron diffraction techniques and their applications in simple terms
Emphasises the 'human element' in the development of the subject by way of historial and biographical notes
