Abstract:
Defects in crystals are not just a subject of scientific curiosity rather an im
portant ingredient of solid-state science. This realization is because of the
interesting structure-sensitive properties of crystalline solids emanating from
the presence of a small concentration of imperfections in an otherwise perfect
lattice. Practically, all the mechanical properties of materials are strongly
influenced by crystal defects. The complex nature of their study stems from
their tendency to lower the symmetry of the lattice, and their occurrence in
varying length scales in the real crystals. Disorderliness of a periodic lattice
in the vicinity of a few atoms or lattice sites is termed as a point defect, and
a topological imperfection extending through the crystal forms a line or a
planar defect.
