Fundamentals of Crystallography

Crystallography is an interdisciplinary science covering a wide area, from biology to earth sciences, mathematics and materials science. Its role is growing, owing to the contribution crystallography can offer to the understanding of such diverse fields as biological structures, high-temperature superconductors, mineral properties, and phase transitions. The book describes both the theoretical bases and applications of different areas interacting with crystallography. As with the first and second editions, it is organized as a collection of chapters written by recognized specialists, with all contributions being harmonized into a unified whole. The main text is devoted to the presentation of basics; the appendices deal with specialist aspects. In this third edition topics have been updated so as to document the present state of the art: emphasis is placed upon areas of current research.

To facilitate learning and make teaching more effective, new illustrations have been introduced. As with the second edition, a software package is included via the book's OUP web site: modern graphics will help users to better understand the basics of this science via three-dimensional images, simulation of experiments, and exercises.

Carmelo Giacovazzo, Full Professor of Mineralogy. Director of CNR - IC Institute from 1992 to 2008. President of the European Crystallographic Association from 1997 to 2000. Winner of the European Prize Italgas 1996 for Scientific Research and Innovation; European Crystallographic Association Prize 2003. Editor of the international reviews: Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie and Croatica Chemica Acta. Research areas: Methods in Crystallography, with specific interest in the development of methods aiming at solving crystal structures from single crystal and powder diffraction data. Electron and neutron diffraction. Scientific papers: about 300 in international journals. Produced software used in about 2000 scientific groups or institutions.