RECIPROCAL LATTICE

&
BRILLOUIN ZONE
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE
In a direct or real crystal lattice there are many
set of planes with different orientations and
interplanar spacing.
We draw normals to the set of planes from a
common origin whose lengths are equal to the
reciprocal of the interplanar spacing of that
particular set of planes.
The end points of these points form a lattice
called 'reciprocal lattice.
Every point of this reciprocal lattice is a
characteristic of a set of planes.
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE
The direction of this point from origin indicates
about the orientation of planes.
Reciprocal of reciprocal lattice is a direct lattice.
The reciprocal lattice is also a 'Bravais lattice
Direct lattice is in 'real space' whereas the
reciprocal lattice is in 'Fourier space'.
If a, a2, az are the primitive translations vectors
of a direct lattice then the primitive translation
vectors b,, b b of the reciprocal lattice are
given by:

a, Xa
b27 a,-la,xa)
K
b,
a, = 2nd,
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE

The set of reciprocal lattice vectors G in terms

of the primitive translation vectors b, are given
by:
G b1 +2b2 +vgb
where vy Vz & Vz are integers
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE

Direct Lattice Translation Vector:

T n,a,+n,a2+ ng3
Reciprocal Lattice Translation Vector:
G v,b+Vv,b,+ V,ba
The relation between G and T is:
G.T= (n,a,+ n2a2t n,a3).(V,b,tV2b2+ Vb3)
2r(nVt n>v2+ naV3)
2tN; where N is an integer
iG.T =1
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE

An X-Ray diffraction pattern of the lattice can

be interpreted as a map of the reciprocal
lattice of the crystal.
Or
The Set of Reciprocal Lattice Vectors G
determines the possible X-ray reflections.
 Reciprocal Lattices for the SC, FCC & BCCLattices
Direct Lattice Reciprocal Lattice Volume

SC
a ax b =(27T/a)x

a2 ayy b2 = (27t/ ay (27/a

a3 = az b3 = (27/a)z
1=alx+y) b2(-x+y-z)
FCC
a2-aly +z) b2xy+z) 2(2m/a
a3alz+x) b3 x+y-z)
BCC y+z)
jafx*y-z)b
a2=al-x+y+z) {b2 =2(x+z) 4(2m/a
a3 alx-y+z) b3-2(x+y)
 PROPERTIES OF A
RECIPROCAL LATTICE

For every lattice or crystal, two types of

lattices are associated (a) direct and (b)
reciprocal. The latter has the following
properties in comparison to the former:
(i) A reciprocal vector is normal to a particular
set of planes.,
Proof: We have G = hb,+ kb,+lb
now n,a , n,a2, n,ag are the points in a
direct lattice. G will be normal to the plane
formed by points n,az, n,a2, n,a if G is
normal to any vector lying in that plane.
 PROPERTIES OF A RECIPROCAL LATTICE
Since n,a,-n,a2, n,a-n,a3,n,a2-n,4, lie in that
plane, then
(n,a,-naz) = 0
G.
or (kb,+kb,+ lb,). (n,a,-n,a,) =0 -(hk) plance

or 21t(n,h-n,k)= 0
nh=nk
similarly n,h=ng
and nzk=ng
Which will be true if n, =1/h, n, =1/k, n, =1/,

However, (hkl) are the Miller indices of the plane

passing through n01, n2a2 n303.

G {hkl) is normal to the plane (hkl).

 PROPERTIES OF A
RECIPROCAL LATTICE

(ii) Any reciprocal lattice vector is inversely

proportional to the interplanar lattice
spacing of the corresponding plane.
G (hkl)oc 1/d(hk/)
(i) The volume of a reciprocal unit cell is
inversely proportional to the volume of the
direct unit cell.
(a, xa).(a,xa).(a,xa,)
(27}3.
b.(bx b) =
la, (a,xa,)]3
1
= (21Ta,a,xa)

a. (a
cell.
X a,)is the volume of the direct unit
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE
Reciprocal lattice for 1D:
Crystal lattice

Reciprocal lattice

Linear crystal lattice

b Reciprocal lattice

k-7 k-T
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE

Reciprocal lattice for 2D:

b*
b

OT a

Crystal lattice Reciprocal lattice

 RECIPROCAL LATTICE

Reciprocal lattice for 2D:

1
do10

a di00

O-
do10
1
 RECIPROCAL LATTICE

Reciprocal lattice for 3D:

r0a+21b+10 Reciproca
[021] Space c

81211a* +2b* +1c*

(121)
Real
space
 Brillouin Zones & Reciprocal Latticess
for the SC, BCC & FCC Lattices

Brillouin Zones
The First Brillouin Zone (BZ) is defined as the Wigner-Seitz
primitive cell inthe reciprocallattice. It gives a geometric
interpretation, in the reciprocal lattice, of the diffraction condition.
The Brillouin construction exhibits
all wavevectors k that can be
Bragg reflected
by the crystal.
.The constructions divide the
reciprocal space into fragments, out
of which
The First Brillouin Zone
is of the greatest importance.
 Brillouin Zone

b
Reciprocal lattice

k- k-

The first Brillouin zone for a 1D lattice.

 Brillouin Zone

b
a*

The first Brillouin zone for a rectangular lattice.

"AIl" Brillouin Zones: Square Lattice??
First Brillouin Zone: BCC Lattice

The figure is a regular rhombic dodecahedron

 IMPORTANCEOFA BRILLOUIN ZONE
Any wave whose wave vector starting from the origin
terminates at the zone boundary satisfies the Bragg's
reflection condition.
A Brilouin zone is the locus of all those k-values in the
reciprocal lattice which are Bragg's reflected.
The second B.Z. is the set of points that are reached from
the first zone by crossing only one Bragg plane.
The nth B. Z. can be defined as the set of points that can
be reached from the origin by crossing (n-1) Bragg
planes.
The locus of the points in the R.S. that have no Braggg
planes between them and origin defines the first B.Z.
Area or volume of all the B.Z. are equal.
First B.Z. of a BCC has the shape of a 12-side solid
(rhombic dodecahedron), which is the unit cell of a FCC
lattice.
First B.Z. of a FCC has the shape of a truncated
Octahedron, which is the unit cell of a BCC lattice.