Diffusion of particles on lattices

Abstract

Diffusion processes take place almost everywhere in the material world; they are ubiquitous in condensed matter. Diffusion occurs in the different forms of condensed matter: in fluids, complex fluids, and solids. This chapter is concerned with the description of diffusion of particles in lattices. The theoretical description refers to diffusion in crystalline but also amorphous solids. Experimental facts on diffusion processes in solids are given in Chaps. 1-6, in particular. Empirical information gives the motivation and the basis for the theoretical description. Two important special cases of diffusion processes in crystalline solids are the tracer diffusion, where the displacement of marked atoms (radioactive isotopes) is determined, and interstitial diffusion, where atoms move on interstitial sites within the solid (see Chap. 1).