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Generalizing crystallography: a tribute to Alan L. Mackay at 90

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In our preoccupation with finding out how atoms are arranged in space, we are in danger of losing sight of the whole picture.

Alan L. Mackay [1]

Crystallography is not just a scientific specialty, but is a way of life.

Alan L. Mackay [2]

Abstract

Alan L. Mackay, one of the rare generalists of our time, was a disciple and follower of J. Desmond Bernal. Mackay has contributed decisively to the development of the science of structures and taught generations to look at the broader picture when determining crystal and molecular structures. He was constantly seeking coherence and regularities in observations and in thought experiments and was aiming at creating concepts on the basis of those regularities. His inquiries prompted him to predict the existence of regular but not periodic crystal structures that are known today as quasicrystals.

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Acknowledgments

I thank John L. Finney, Magdolna Hargittai, Alan L. Mackay, and Robert H. Mackay for their kind assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, PO Box 91, 1521, Budapest, Hungary

    Istvan Hargittai

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  1. Istvan Hargittai
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Correspondence to Istvan Hargittai.

Appendix

Appendix

Alan L. Mackay, Crystal Symmetry, Physics Bulletin November 1976, published by the Institute of Physics. © IOP Publishing. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.

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Hargittai, I. Generalizing crystallography: a tribute to Alan L. Mackay at 90. Struct Chem 28, 1–16 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11224-016-0766-1

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