Matter Waves

Abstract

In the previous chapter a billiard ball approach was used to investigate symmetrical packings of atoms. There was also a brief introduction to the techniques for analysing crystalline materials. In this chapter we will start to look at the atom in more detail, in order to see how detail at the atomic level is related to the externally observable properties of solids. Throughout the treatment the Rutherford atom will be used; that is, a very small nucleus containing most of the mass which is surrounded by orbiting electrons. The link between the microscopic and macroscopic levels depends on quantum mechanics.