Numéro |
JDN
Volume 12, 2011
JDN 18 - Neutrons et Simulations
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 123 - 159 | |
Section | Electronic Structure, Magnetism and Phonons | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/sfn/201112007 | |
Publié en ligne | 9 juin 2011 |
Introduction to the theory of lattice dynamics
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB1 8BL, UK
* e-mail: mtd10@cam.ac.uk
We review the theory of lattice dynamics, starting from a simple model with two atoms in the unit cell and generalising to the standard formalism used by the scientific community today. The key component of the theory is the force between atoms, and we discuss how this can be computed from empirical or quantum mechanical models. The basic model is developed to link the amplitudes of vibrations to thermodynamics. The major method for measuring lattice dynamics is inelastic scattering of beams of neutrons and x-rays. We develop a simplified theory of inelastic scattering of radiation beams, and show how this can be used in instrumentation. Several examples are used to illustrate the theory.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences 2011