X‐ray crystallography: An account of early studies at Schenectady; the genesis and beginnings of x‐ray crystallography at Caltech

OCT 01, 1958

Drs. Hull and Burdick, both intimately connected with the first attempts in the United States to carry out crystal structure analysis by the use of x rays, recall their experiences of four decades ago in the two pages that follow. The introductory note appearing below was written by Edward W. Hughes, research associate in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3062223

Edward W. Hughes

Albert W. Hull

C. L. Burdick

The electromagnetic wave nature of x rays was first firmly established in 1912 by the observation of diffraction of x rays by crystals in the famous investigations of Friedrich, Knipping, and von Laue. The application of x‐ray diffraction methods to the determination of the detailed structure of crystals was demonstrated within less than a year by W. L. Bragg and since that time literally thousands of papers have appeared describing either improvements in these methods or giving the results of their application to crystals, the natures of which have become increasingly complex as newer methods of increased power have been developed.

References

1. Friedrich, W., Knipping, P., and Laue, M. von, Ber. bayer. Akad. Wiss. (Math.‐phys. Kl.) 303 (1912).
2. Bragg, W. L., Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) A89, 248 (1913).https://doi.org/PRLAAZ
3. Hull, A. W., Phys. Rev. 9, 84 and (1917).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
4. Hull, A. W., Phys. Rev. 10, 661 (1917).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
5. Burdick, C. L., and Ellis, J. H., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 3, 644 (1917); https://doi.org/PNASA6
Burdick, C. L., and Ellis, J. H., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 39, 2518 (1917).https://doi.org/JACSAT

More about the Authors

Edward W. Hughes. California Institute of Technology.

Albert W. Hull. General Electric Research Laboratory, Schenectady, New York.

C. L. Burdick. California Institute of Technology.