What is an ‘ideally imperfect’ crystal? Is kinematical theory appropriate?
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The diffraction from imperfect crystals and the applicability of kinematical theory are described. Most materials are crystalline because atoms and molecules tend to form ordered arrangements, and since the interatomic distances are comparable with the wavelength of X-rays, their interaction creates diffraction patterns. The intensity in these patterns changes with crystal quality. Perfect crystals, e.g. semiconductors, fit well to dynamical theory, whereas crystals that reveal the stereochemistry of complex biological molecules, the structure of organic and inorganic molecules and powders are required to be fragmented (termed ‘ideally imperfect’) to justify the use of the simpler kinematical theory. New experimental results of perfect and imperfect crystals are interpreted with a fundamental description of diffraction, which does not need fragmented crystals but just ubiquitous defects. The distribution of the intensity is modified and can influence the interpretation of the patterns.
- OSTI ID:
- 22535122
- Journal Information:
- Acta Crystallographica. Section A, Foundations and Advances (Online), Vol. 72, Issue Pt 1; Other Information: PMCID: PMC4689186; PMID: 26697866; PUBLISHER-ID: ae5011; OAI: oai:pubmedcentral.nih.gov:4689186; Copyright (c) Paul F. Fewster 2016; This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors and source are cited.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2053-2733
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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