ABSTRACT
Even though x-ray diffraction techniques have enabled scientists to reveal the internal structure of crystals, they did not contribute much to the understanding of the very outer layers of atoms in the crystal. It will be seen later that the surface layers play a very important role in the growth of crystals because they act as collectors of fresh material. In the early part of the twentieth century, a number of techniques such as electron microscopy, phasecontrast microscopy, and multiple-beam interferometry were developed to study the surface of crystals. The knowledge gained by such studies has provided valuable information concerning the way in which crystals grow. Some very striking and precise observations made about the crystal surfaces have put the theory of crystal growth on sound footing. In this chapter, we look at some of the theoretical frameworks of crystal growth, which are useful for understanding what actually happens when a crystal is growing. With the help of these theories, we can infer the inuence of various growth parameters on the crystallization process.
