Atomic Diffusion in Glasses Studied with Coherent X-Rays

This thesis provides the first successful study of jump diffusion processes in glasses on the atomic scale, utilizing a novel coherent technique. This new method, called atomic-scale X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy or aXPCS, has only recently been proven to be able to capture diffusion processes with atomic resolution in crystal systems.

With this new toolkit for studying atomic diffusion in amorphous systems, new insight into basic processes in a wide range of technically relevant materials, like fast ionic conductors, can be obtained.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Theory.- Experimental.- Data Analysis.- Proof of Concept: Direct Observation of Atomic Diffusion in Glasses.- Practical Application: Tailoring Fast Ionic Diffusion.- Conclusion.