Crystallography
Full course description
The six lectures of this course will lay the foundations of crystallography, starting from group theory and symmetry as a concept, extending it to crystal families and space groups and applying it in diffraction principles and experimental techniques. Beyond these basics, more advanced discussion topics will be discussed according to the students’ preferences, among local structure analysis, magnetism in crystallography, phase transitions, mineralogy, and protein crystallography. The tutorials sessions will complement the lectures and help the students gain a deeper understanding of the topic and some methodological approaches to state-of-the-art problems that involve crystallography. Though the course will have a physical chemistry approach to the subject, crystallography is an inherently interdisciplinary field and students that are passionate about mathematics and physics are encouraged to join.
Course objectives
- To introduce the students to the extensive and interdisciplinary field of crystallography;
- To provide the basis on how crystals can be classified and treated with group theory;
- To familiarise the students with the International Tables of Crystallography;
- To outline the process of diffraction and the available experimental techniques;
- To suggest some advanced application and state-of-the-art advancement to understand the potential of the field.
Prerequisites
- PRO1002 Project Period P6 (at least 1000 level)
Co-requisites
- None
Recommended
- CHE2007
-
CHE2002
-
MAT2004
This course is NOT recommended for students in their first year of study. If you haven’t taken at least two semesters at MSP waivers are unlikely to be granted. Otherwise, given the interdisciplinary nature of the course, a sufficient scientific background to benefit from the course and an interest in the topic will suffice, regardless of the recommended prerequisites.
Recommended reading
- Michael Glazer and Gerald Burns, “Space Groups for Solid State Scientists”, 3rd Ed., 2013;
- C. Giacovazzo, "Fundamentals of crystallography”, Oxford University Press, 1992.
The second book is advanced and covers a wide breadth of crystallography. The students can refer to it for deeper mathematics and extensive commentary. Additional material for specific subjects will be given in the relevant lectures, when applicable.)