Crystallography and the World of Symmetry

• Main Author: Chatterjee, Sanat K. (Author)
• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2008.
• Series: Springer Series in Materials Science, 113
• Subjects: Physics.; Crystallography.; Phase transitions (Statistical physics).; Engineering.; Structural materials.; Phase Transitions and Multiphase Systems.; Structural Materials.; Engineering, general.

 Symmetry exists in realms from crystals to patterns, in external shapes of living or non-living objects, as well as in the fundamental particles and the physical laws that govern them. In fact, the search for this symmetry is the driving force for the discovery of many fundamental particles and the formulation of many physical laws. While one can not imagine a world which is absolutely symmetrical nor can one a world which is absolutely asymmetrical. These two aspects of nature are intermingled with each other inseparably. This is the basis of the existence of aperiodicity manifested in the liquid crystals and also quasi-crystals also discussed in Crystallography and the World of Symmetry. 

 Pattern -- Lattices -- Symmetry in Lattices -- Crystal Symmetry (Crystal Pattern): I -- Crystal Symmetry (Crystal Pattern): II -- Crystals and X-Ray -- Experimental Methods for Structure Analysis: X-Ray Diffraction Techniques -- Determination of Space Group and Crystal Structure -- The World of Symmetry -- Asymmetry in Otherwise Symmetrical Matter.