Crystallography Vocabulary Flashcards

Crystallography

Branch of physics that deals with the study of internal structures, physical properties, and imperfections of crystalline solids by using X-rays, electron beams, and neutron beams.

Crystalline Solids

Solids in which atoms or molecules are arranged in a regular and ordered fashion in a three-dimensional pattern, exhibiting a definite melting point and anisotropy.

Anisotropy

The property of crystalline solids where physical properties differ depending on the direction along which they are measured.

Amorphous Solids

Non-crystalline solids in which atoms or molecules are arranged in an irregular fashion without an identical environment, exhibiting isotropy and no definite melting point.

Isotropy

The property of amorphous solids where physical properties are identical in all directions.

Space Lattice

An infinite three-dimensional arrangement of lattice points in space in which the environment about each point is identical.

Lattice Points

The positions of atoms or molecules in space denoted by points (also known as lattice sites).

Basis

An assembly of one or more atoms or molecules, identical in composition, arrangement, and orientation, associated with every lattice point to generate a crystal structure.

Unit Cell

The smallest geometrical volume of a solid, the translational repetition of which in three dimensions yields the actual crystal structure.

Primitives

The intercepts $a$, $b$, and $c$ that define the dimensions of a unit cell along the crystallographic axes.

Primitive Cell

A unit cell formed by the primitives $a$, $b$, and $c$ that contains only one lattice point.

Lattice Parameters

The six parameters consisting of three interfacial angles (̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑̑$${