1: Significance of the discovery of X-ray diffraction
2: The various approaches to the concept of space lattice
3: The dual nature of light
4: Röntgen and the discovery of X-rays
5: The nature of X-rays: waves or corpuscles?
6: The discovery of X-ray diffraction and the birth of X-ray
analysis
7: The first steps
8: The route to crystal structure determination
9: X-rays as a branch of optics
10: Early applications of X-ray crystallography
11: Unravelling the mystery of crystals - the forerunners
12: The birth and rise of the space-lattice concept
Authier André,
Former student of Ecole Normale Supérieure,
Visiting Fellow, M.I.T. USA 1955-1956
D.Sc. Paris University 1961
Associate Professor, Paris University (1965-1968)
Full Professor, Paris University (1968-1997)
Member of the German Academy of Sciences (Deutsche Akademie der
Naturforscher Leopoldina)
Former president of the French Crystallographic and Mineralogical
Societies
Former President of the International Union of Crystallography
(1990-1993)
Officer of the Légion d'Honneur
`Readers of the Early Days of X-ray Crystallography from both camps
will be rewarded by a thoroughly researched account on the multiple
faces of a scientific specialty. Historians of science will find
here a rich source for further study. Crystallographers will
appreciate the lesson that the historical roots of their discipline
are more ramified than it may appear from a mere rational
reconstruction of ideas and concepts.'
Michael Eckert, Metascience
`I consider Authier's book as, at the present time and for a long
time to come, the most complete History of Crystallography and the
topics connected with it. It will be an indispensable tool for
further research and a treasure trove for everybody interested in
the history of scientific ideas'
Dieter Schwarzenbach, Crystallography Reviews
`André has created an historical tour de force: every page contains
precious nuggets of much interest...This fluently written,
scholarly treatise, covers not only the early days of X-ray
crystallography but also it sets the historical context in the
centuries leading up to the discovery of X-ray diffraction, and
what followed therefrom. Historians of science will enjoy reading
it, as will students and researchers in crystallography,
chemistry,
biochemistry, solid-state physics, materials science, and
mineralogy.'
Moreton Moore, Crystallography News
`While maintaining its main goal of describing the historical and
scientific context in which X-ray crystallography originated, the
book is a well conceived excursion through the history of science
in the 20th century. [] Brilliant and appropriate quotations, as
subtitles of the chapters, and many figures, pictures, and short
biographies of the main characters embellish the text.
Interrelations among scientists, their collaborations and
controversies over
the proper interpretation of X-ray diffraction by crystals are
presented in a fetching way: most famous and less famous scientists
come in and out of the story at the appropriate moment and
their
contribution is clearly explained.'
Chemistry International
`To sum up, one of the leading players in the modern era of X-ray
crystallography, Andre Authier, has produced with this book a work
of true devotion and incomparable detail. I Found the book to be a
captivating read. It should be studied by all with an interest in
where we came from in our field of crystallographic science, and is
a guide to where we are going.'
John Helliwell, Acta Crystallographica
`Professor Authier has exquisitely brought those Early Days to
life, with a very human and entertaining account of the science,
rigorously described, spiced with many little known personal and
biographical details resulting in a story revealing how it really
happened. The newcomers to the field will be exposed to a proud
scientific enterprise and tradition that will be appreciated and
treasured by the growing community of practitioners of the
discipline
that has produced a record number of Nobel prizes.'
Joel Bernstein, Faculty of Science, New York University, Abu
Dhabi
`This is the definitive account of the discovery that truly changed
our world. This thorough study, with its wealth of historical
detail, should be required reading for everyone seriously
interested in crystals.
'
Marjorie Senechal, Smith College, Northampton, MA
`The title of the volume underestimates the richness of its
content, which is much larger. This clear, rigorous and well
balanced review of the early developments of crystallography and
X-ray diffraction will be indispensable for all students and
scientists interested in the field.'
Francesco Abbona, Università degli Studi di Torino
`A comprehensive and enthralling opus of encyclopedic and
historical character!'
Helmut Klapper, Universität Bonn
`This marvellously eclectic book provides and almost encyclopaedic
source of how we know what we know about the structures and
properties of crystals, and Andre Authier tells it with an
intellectually and scientifically rigorous and constantly
entertaining way. [] Since I received the book, it has provided
many hours of delightful reading, browsing, and reminiscing, and
has already served me well as a sourcebook for writing and
lecturing. It documents a
rich history and tradition of which all crystallographers should be
proud, and it should enjoy a cherished place on the bookshelf of
anyone with an interest in science, history, and the human role in
creating
the two.'
Joel Bernstein, IUCr Newsletter 2014
`It is very clear that Authier has labored long and hard and as a
result has done a good job presenting a history of
crystallography'
Joe Ferrara, ACA NetfleXions
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