Welcome

Welcome to the webpage of the Alberta Powder Diffraction Workshop.

This workshop is aimed at people both new to powder diffraction and those who want a refresher. However, it does assume a knowledge of basic crystallography, some prior use of powder diffraction equipment and experience in using MS-Windows based computers. It's agenda and program are based on talks and tutorials used in the Canadian Powder Diffraction Workshop (CPWD), and the workshop is open to all who can make it to Edmonton, including registrants from other provinces of Canada and Internationally.

While lectures on a variety of topics are planned for the morning, the main theme is to assist participants in using the Rietveld method. Organised by Dr Dipo Omotoso of National Resources Canada (NRCan) and Professor Doug Ivey of the University of Alberta, the workshop speakers are Dr Robert Von Dreele of Argonne National Laboratory, co-author of the widely used GSAS Rietveld software; Dr Ian Swainson and Lachlan Cranswick (both from the National Research Council of Canada); and Dr Reinhard Kleeberg (University of Mining and Technology, Mineralogical Institute, Freiberg, Germany). Some of the workshop talks notes are used (with permission) of Dr Angus Wilkinson of Georgia Tech, USA.

For the first two days, afternoon practical sessions will concentrate on performing Rietveld analysis, for structure refinement and quantitative phase analysis. The GSAS software (Robert Von Dreele and Allen Larson), and EXPGUI interface (Brian Toby), will be the software used.

On the third day, Reinhard Kleeberg will be presenting talks and tutorials using the BGMN software on the quantitative analysis of clay containing samples.

All the information you need to decide and plan to attend this workshop should be viewable via the main menu. Feel free to contact us if you have any queries that these webpages don't seem to answer.

Realising that some may like to bring family and/or friends to visit the western parts of Canada, there is also accompanying person(s) information and resources. Edmonton can be used as a jumping off point to further explore other regions of Western Canada.

This workshop has received support and sponsorship from University of Alberta, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering and the National Research Council of Canada.

Downloadable Material

Alberta Powder Diffraction Workshop Poster in PDF format (450 kb).