Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello.
i am Damien Henderson here at ANDERSEN AFB ,in Guam. My science fair project is crystals.
I would like to Ask an Expert. a few question. I I may

1) How did you get interested in crystals ?
2 ) What kind of schooling ,do you need for your, career ?
3) Do you feel that crystals are good luck charms?
4 ) We use crystals in everyday life ,which which do you feel is the most important ,way to use them
in the medical field ,food, or the use of them in macherinery ?
Thank You for taking the time
to answer my questions.
Yours Truly
damien Hendersen

Hello, damienhenderson.

I am not a "crystal expert," but crystals are used in very many ways in physical science research. So I will answer your questions from the viewpoint of a "crystal user."

1) Like many people, I find large crystals to be beautiful. The way they refract light, their colors, and the geometric symmetry are all beautiful, so I suppose that's the first way I began to be interested in crystals. A kit of materials for growing crystals in a bowl was generally available in toy stores when I was a kid, and I bought one several times and worked to grow crystals as big as I could. My interest grew much deeper as I learned about how crystals form and how they can be used.
2) I have a Ph.D. in Physics. Such a degree enabled me to apply for jobs in physics research. I spent several years in developing atomic resolution electron microscopy. I chose to use a Europium-doped Calcium Fluoride crystal as the electron detector in my microscope because when that kind of crystal is hit by an energetic electron, it produces a shower of green light photons. The green light was converted to an electrical signal and used to form a TV image. Later in my career I worked to develop seismic exploration technology. One learns a lot on the job, but the degree is essential to get started.
3) No. Luck refers to the events that happen to us by chance. Possession of a crystal doesn't affect most of the things that happen to us. A crystal has no magical powers.
4) Crystals occur all over in the things that we use every day. Transistors and integrated circuits are built from silicon crystals, so silicon crystals are in every item that's electronic. An LCD TV uses crystals in the LEDs that light up the screen. A "liquid crystal" forms the layer of the screen that transmits light of one color or another.
Medical radiation detectors use crystals; instruments that check our food for purity use crystals; and precision machines soemtimes use crystals for bearings. I don't know how to say which of these many uses is most important.

Hope this helps.

Mr. Wiggins,

Thank You so much for the your quick reply. The information is great, and can use this information
Again thank you for all your help

Sincerly Yours

Damien Henderson
ps) I will let you know how ,I made out ,also bought one the the Smithonian crystal growing sets