Quasicrystals: A Primer (Monographs on the Physics and Chemistry of Materials, No 50)

In 1984, physicists discovered a totally unexpected form of matter - a structure that appeared to contain five-fold symmetry axes, which cannot exist in strictly periodic structures - that became known as quasicrystals. In an effort to understand these structures, a theory that employed higher dimensional space groups was conceived, enabling the creation of new alloy phases that exhibited the properties expected from this model. Now in its second edition, Quasicrystals: A Primer offers an up-to-date and accessible introduction to the subject for students approaching it for the first time. Providing lively treatments of a range of practical, experimental, and theoretical topics, the book has been completely updated to reflect the latest advances in quasicrystal research and application. Helpful problem sets and a computer program that generates a Penrose lattice are included as well. Students and researchers in materials science, crystallography, and condensed matter physics will welcome this new edition of a trustworthy, user-friendly survey of an important topic in crystallography. 1. How To Fill Space With Atoms In Condensed Matter States. 1.2. Periodic Structures. 1.3. Liquids, Glasses, And Amorphous Alloys. 1.4. Quasiperiodicity: Another Type Of Long-range Order -- 2. Real Quasicrystals: Preparation And Characterization. 2.2. Preparation Methods. 2.3. Characterization Of Quasicrystalline Samples. 2.4. The Various Families Of Quasicrystals And Their Order Perfection. 2.5. Quasicrystals Versus Twinned Crystals. 2.6. Phason-induced Phase Transition And Phase Diagram In The Alfecu System. 2.7. A Phase Diagram For The Alpdmn System -- 3. High-dimensional Crystallography. 3.2. The Basic Principles Of Quasicrystallography. 3.3. Six-dimensional Crystallography For 3-dim Icosahedral Quasicrystals. 3.4. Some Further Consideration Of The Atomic Objects Of The N-dim Image -- 4. Where Are The Atoms? 4.2. Experimental Determination Of Quasicrystal Structures. 4.3. Three-dimensional Atomic Models -- 5. Phonons, Phasons, And Dislocations In Quasicrystals. 5.2. Basic Knowledge About Lattice Dynamics And Defects In Periodic Structures. 5.3. Phonons In Disordered Materials. 5.4. Modulation And Quasiperiodicity Effects On Lattice Dynamics. 5.5. Concepts Of Elasticity And Defects In Quasiperiodic Structures -- 6. A Little More About The Physics Of Quasicrystals. 6.2. Is Perfect Quasicrystal Growth An Acceptable Physical Concept? 6.3. Can Icosahedral Order Be Grown Out Of Disorder? 6.4. The Alternative Ways For A Quasicrystal To Grow. 6.5. Where Are The Electrons And How Do They Move? C. Janot. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.