Robert L. Snyder – författare

The 39th Denver Conference on Applications of X-ray Analysis was held July 31-August 4, 1995, at the Sheraton Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The year 1995 was a special year for the X-ray analysis community, since it represented the 100th anniversary ofthe discovery ofX-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. In commemoration of this event, the Plenary Session of the conference was entitled "THE ROENTGEN COMMEMORATIVE SESSION:1895-1995, "100 YEARS OF PROGRESS IN X-RA Y SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS". It is interesting to note that while we celebrate 100 years ofthe use ofX-ray techniques in general, and about 80 years ofX-ray diffraction and spectroscopy in particular, the Denver X-ray Conference has been in place for about half ofthat time period! Like the X-ray methods it represents, the Denver Conference on Applications ofX-ray Analysis has grown and matured, has survived the rigors oftime, and today, provides the worlds' best annual forum for the exchange of experiences and developments in the various fields ofX-ray analysis. Imagine, when the Denver Conference started in 1951, there were no personal computer- in fact, there were no computers, period! There was no SEM, no microprobe, there were no Si(Li) detectors, no transistors, no synchrotrons, Hugo Rietveld was a child, and many members who regularly attend Denver Meetings today, weren't even born yet! As I write this foreword, a copy of volurne 1 of Advances in X-ray Analysis lays in front of me on my desk.

The characterization of materials and phenomena has historically been the principal limitation to the development in each area of science. Once what we are observing is well defined, a theoretical analysis rapidly follows. Modern theories of chemical bonding did not evolve until the methods of analytical chemistry had progressed to a point where the bulk stoichiometry of chemical compounds was firmly established. The great progress made during this century in understanding chemistry has followed directly from the development of an analytical chemistry based on the Dalton assumption of multiple proportions. It has only become apparent in recent years that the extension of our understanding of materials hinges on their non-stoichiometric nature. The world of non-Daltonian chemistry is very poorly understood at present because of our lack of ability to precisely characterize it. The emergence of materials science has only just occurred with our recognition of effects, which have been thought previously to be minor variations from ideality, as the principal phenomena controlling properties. The next step in the historical evolution of materials science must be the development of tools to characterize the often subtle phenomena which determine properties of materials. The various discussions of instrumental techniques presented in this book are excellent summaries for the state-of-the-art of materials characterization at this rather critical stage of materials science. The application of the tools described here, and those yet to be developed, holds the key to the development of this infant into a mature science.

The characterization of materials and phenomena has historically been the principal limitation to the development in each area of science. Once what we are observing is well defined, a theoretical analysis rapidly follows. Modern theories of chemical bonding did not evolve until the methods of analytical chemistry had progressed to a point where the bulk stoichiometry of chemical compounds was firmly established. The great progress made during this century in understanding chemistry has followed directly from the development of an analytical chemistry based on the Dalton assumption of multiple proportions. It has only become apparent in recent years that the extension of our understanding of materials hinges on their non-stoichiometric nature. The world of non-Daltonian chemistry is very poorly understood at present because of our lack of ability to precisely characterize it. The emergence of materials science has only just occurred with our recognition of effects, which have been thought previously to be minor variations from ideality, as the principal phenomena controlling properties. The next step in the historical evolution of materials science must be the development of tools to characterize the often subtle phenomena which determine properties of materials. The various discussions of instrumental techniques presented in this book are excellent summaries for the state-of-the-art of materials characterization at this rather critical stage of materials science. The application of the tools described here, and those yet to be developed, holds the key to the development of this infant into a mature science.

Shawn McGyver and his friend Mike Anderson had been with the Philadelphia Police for only a few years when war interrupted their chosen profession. Trained marksman they volunteered to serve their nation as members of the elite Berdan Sharpshooters; soldiers, who man-for-man were responsible for more Rebel casualties than any unit in the Union Army.Having come to Virginia they worked as scout, skirmisher and sniper, doing what they could to help General McClellan in his pursuit to end the war quickly. They became soldiers, proud of their comrades and their unit. Then the mutilated bodies were discovered. Remembering that the recently promoted Lieutenant McGyver had been trained as a police investigator in London, his superiors tasked him with the unofficial investigation into the grisly crimes. An investigation that would find him at odds with the official investigators.Shawn McGyver would now have to lead his platoon against a determined enemy, investigate a grisly series of murders and protect himself and those he cared about most from a vindictive and dangerous officer.