The study of the vibrations of crystal lattices by far infra-red spectroscopy

Abstract

Abstract A survey is made of those aspects of the theory of lattice vibrations relevant to their spectral behaviour, and the roles of ‘effective charges’, critical points and anharmonicity are considered. The experimental investigations by far infra-red spectroscopy are reviewed, results for ionic, covalent, molecular and monatomic solids being presented. Defect-induced spectra and their use as sources of information on otherwise inactive vibrations are discussed.