Fundamentals of Crystallography

Crystallography is the experimental procedure of determining the arrangement of atoms in a crystalline solid. Crystallographic methods involve the analysis of diffraction patterns of a sample that has been targeted by a beam of X-rays, electrons or neutrons. Such radiations have different interactions with different specimens, and thus aid in varied crystallographic studies. X-ray crystallography is used for analyzing the molecular conformations of large biomolecules. Neutron crystallography is used for refining structures obtained by X-ray methods, while electron crystallography is used for determining protein structures, such as viral capsids and membrane proteins. The understanding of crystal structures is important for understanding crystallographic defects. When materials do not naturally form crystals, they are placed in solution and then crystallized through vapor diffusion. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to crystallography. It strives to provide detailed information about the techniques and applications of crystallography in a multidisciplinary manner. Those with an interest in this domain would find this book helpful.