Publisher's Synopsis
All matter (atoms, molecules, solids) is made out of electrons and atomic nuclei. The simplest "condensed matter" system is simply an electron circling a proton, also known as the hydrogen atom. When we increase the number of electrons and nuclei we are describing molecules. These systems have so many diverse properties that there is a whole field of science, called chemistry, devoted to it. When these systems become macroscopic and visible to the human eye, we call them solids. We thus see that the fields of atomic, molecular and solid state physics are strongly related, they deal with systems made out of the same constituents. The beauty of this fact is that essentially all the properties of all these systems can be deduced from one basic physical equation, known as the Schrodinger equation. This a quantum mechanical equation since the internal properties of molecules and solids are determined by electronic interactions at an atomic scale at which classical physics is not applicable anymore. Condensed matter physics (CMP) is uniquely focused on new properties and phenomena that emerge from the aggregation of strongly interacting constituents. Perhaps most importantly, the size of these aggregates is on the scale of life, ranging from atoms to objects that can be held in the human hand. More than any other discipline, CMP guides our understanding of the world we experience, and has the potential to help solve the challenging problems that we face in the new century. Condensed-matter physics is the study of substances in their solid state. This includes the investigation of both crystalline solids in which the atoms are positioned on a repeating three-dimensional lattice, such as diamond, and amorphous materials in which atomic position is more irregular, like in glass. The aim of this book is to study property sensitive structural defects in technologically-important materials such as superconductors, magnets, and other functional materials at nanoscale. Advanced quantitative electron microscopy techniques, such as coherent diffraction, atomic imaging, spectroscopy, and phase retrieval methods including electron holography are developed and employed to study material behaviors. Computer simulations and theoretical modeling are carried out to aid the interpretation of experimental data. All matter (atoms, molecules, solids) is made out of electrons and atomic nuclei. The simplest "condensed matter" system is simply an electron circling a proton, also known as the hydrogen atom. When we increase the number of electrons and nuclei we are describing molecules. These systems have so many diverse properties that there is a whole field of science, called chemistry, devoted to it. When these systems become macroscopic and visible to the human eye, we call them solids. We thus see that the fields of atomic, molecular and solid state physics are strongly related, they deal with systems made out of the same constituents. The beauty of this fact is that essentially all the properties of all these systems can be deduced from one basic physical equation, known as the Schrodinger equation. This a quantum mechanical equation since the internal properties of molecules and solids are determined by electronic interactions at an atomic scale at which classical physics is not applicable anymore. Condensed matter physics (CMP) is uniquely focused on new properties and phenomena that emerge from the aggregation of strongly interacting constituents. Perhaps most importantly, the size of these aggregates is on the scale of life, ranging from atoms to objects that can be held in the human hand. More than any other discipline, CMP guides our understanding of the world we experience, and has the potential to help solve the challenging problems that we face in the new century. Condensed-matter physics is the study of substances in their solid state. This includes the investigation of both crystalline solids in which the atoms are positioned on a repeating three-dimensional lattice, such as diamond, and amorphous materials in which atomic position is more irregular, like in glass. The aim of this book is to study property sensitive structural defects in technologically-important materials such as superconductors, magnets, and other functional materials at nanoscale. Advanced quantitative electron microscopy techniques, such as coherent diffraction, atomic imaging, spectroscopy, and phase retrieval methods including electron holography are developed and employed to study material behaviors. Computer simulations and theoretical modeling are carried out to aid the interpretation of experimental data.
