Models of thermal motion in small-molecule crystallography

The Debye–Waller factor, introduced a century ago, remains a fundamental component in the refinement of crystal structures against X-ray, neutron and electron diffraction data. This review marks its centenary by exploring its applications in small-molecule crystallography. We provide a historical ov...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna Hoser, Anders Ø. Madsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Union of Crystallography 2025-07-01
Series:IUCrJ
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Online Access:https://journals.iucr.org/paper?S2052252525004361
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Summary:The Debye–Waller factor, introduced a century ago, remains a fundamental component in the refinement of crystal structures against X-ray, neutron and electron diffraction data. This review marks its centenary by exploring its applications in small-molecule crystallography. We provide a historical overview of the development of the Debye–Waller factor and its foundations in lattice dynamics. The review discusses the practical use of anisotropic displacement parameters and their role in accurate structure determination. We also address the challenges and advancements in modelling thermal motion and disorder, the role of multi-temperature measurements and modern computational approaches.
ISSN:2052-2525