@AFC_cristal
Erice 30 May - 7 June 2025
Quantum crystallography (QCr) is a rapidly developing field that combines theory with experiment to understand the fundamental behavior of matter at the atomic and molecular levels. It offers the determination of molecular or crystalline structure with a quality exceeding that obtained by traditional methods of X-ray or electron crystallography. By enriching structural information with a wealth of electronic and bonding information, QCr significantly contributes to rational drug design and engineering of new materials.
During this school, we will provide an accessible and in-depth education in quantum mechanics and related semi-empirical methods, tailored to provide a solid foundation in understanding materials structure, physicochemical properties, and the response of materials to physical changes and experimental probes. The theoretical foundations of crystallographic experiments will be briefly recalled, and the methodology of data collection and analysis for quantum crystallography methods will be presented and trained in detail. Speakers at this school will go beyond just theoretical calculations, to demonstrate the deep interplay between theory and experiment: for example, by showing how experimental observations could be used to restrain or constrain first-principles calculations or otherwise showing how calculations could improve the interpretation of an experimental result.
In keeping with this overall aim, the synergy between theoretical and experimental areas will be highlighted to provide a holistic view of the different fields in Quantum Crystallography. This area of knowledge is going through an important boost in the last years, thanks to new coupled approaches and new communities getting in touch with each other. This school will bring together students from these two communities, feeding this new area of knowledge and letting interdisciplinary grow among the students.
Workshops will provide hands-on tutorials on the use and development of software related to the topics, including the development of required input data, and using case studies.
Additionally, the school will benefit from the synergy with the Electron Crystallography School running in parallel, with several lectures shared between the two schools. This will offer a unique opportunity to explore interdisciplinary applications of crystallography in quantum science and structural research.
more information here