Electron Diffraction Techniques

F_obs Fourier map of the hk0 zone of poly(ethylene sulphide) from Electron Diffraction Structure Analysis, J. M. Cowley (ed.) Courtesy of D. Dorset.

Two volumes under the title Electron Diffraction Techniques are being published by Oxford University Press. These multiauthor books, produced under the auspices of the Commission on Electron Diffraction, IUCr, present a comprehensive survey of the current state of the subject written by leading authorities. The project arose from discussions of the Commission held at the 1987 IUCr congress in Perth, Australia. A subsequent survey confirmed the initial impression that the need existed for such a survey. While there are good modern monographs and anthologies concerning particular associated topics such as electron microscopy (including diffraction) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), there has been a conspicuous absence of a comprehensive account of the key subject area of the diffraction of high-energy electrons (10 keV to 11 MeV) as such.

The original aim was to produce one volume with a publication date in 1989. John Cowley, as Chair of the Commission, edited and arranged for the volume to be one of the series published by Oxford University Press for the IUCr. The project expanded until the division into two volumes became necessary. The two volumes provide a thorough coverage of most aspects of the diffraction of high-energy electrons by crystalline solids and a section on gas diffraction. It is hoped that they will form a standard reference work.