Crystal structure/lattice resources (with examples)?

[artfullounger]

Hello PF :D

So, I am an (engineering) undergraduate working on an independent study project, which for me is doing some computational work for a lecturer's research. Specifically, I am using the Abinit package to calculate the elastic properties of some metalloids. To create the input file I need to include information on, among other things, the primitive vectors and coordinates (cartesian or reduced) of the atoms in the crystal.

The problem is that I don't know how to calculate these properties! Currently my background is limited to Engineering Materials Vol. 1 by Ashby and Jones, which discusses some basic concepts of crystallography, but doesn't have anything on how to calculate the coordinates of atoms in a crystal structure given certain parameters. I also have been referring to the Physics of Engineering Solids by Hutchinson and Baird which has more stuff on lattices but I find somewhat confusing.

Thus, my question is, can you recommend any good learning resources (textbook or otherwise, although I find podcasts and videos less helpful for my learning style) for basic solid state physics/materials science focusing particularly on lattices and crystal structure (with examples of calculations and the like ideally)? Currently I've just been trying out different books that are more or less on these topics. I'm planning on having a look at Kittel next, as that's the recommended text for my universities introductory solid state physics course.

 

[Illmatic1]

Glad to hear you are working on an independent study project! To help you with your research, I would highly recommend the book "Solid State Physics" by Ashcroft and Mermin. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of solid state physics, including lattice and crystal structure. It also provides plenty of examples and calculations that you can use to understand the concepts better. Additionally, the book has a very user-friendly approach and is easy to comprehend. Another great resource for more detailed information on this topic is the book "Introduction to Solid State Physics" by Charles Kittel. This book provides a more detailed look at various topics related to solid state physics, including lattices and crystal structure. It also provides plenty of examples and calculations. Both books should provide you with the information you need to understand and calculate the primitive vectors and coordinates of atoms in a crystal structure.