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Lecture10 12

The document discusses the 7 crystal systems and their associated point groups and symmetries. It provides tables showing the minimal symmetry, maximal symmetry, number of point groups for each crystal system. It also includes diagrams showing unique mirror planes for cubic, hexagonal, rhombohedral, orthorhombic and monoclinic unit cells.

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Gayathri Shrushti. V mm19b031
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24 views21 pages

Lecture10 12

The document discusses the 7 crystal systems and their associated point groups and symmetries. It provides tables showing the minimal symmetry, maximal symmetry, number of point groups for each crystal system. It also includes diagrams showing unique mirror planes for cubic, hexagonal, rhombohedral, orthorhombic and monoclinic unit cells.

Uploaded by

Gayathri Shrushti. V mm19b031
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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They are divided into seven groups—forming seven crystal systems

Maximal Number of
Unit Cell Minimal Symmetry symmetry point
(holohedral) groups
Cubic 4 triads or 3 m3m 5
Tetragonal 1 tetrad or 4 4/mmm 7
Orthorhombic 3 mutually diads or mmm 3
mirrors ( 2)
Monoclinic 1 diad or a mirror 2 m 3
Triclinic None (1-fold axis) 1 2
Trigonal (Rhombohedral) 1 triad or 3 3m 5
Hexagonal 1 hexad or 6 6/mmm 7
Point groups associated with 7 crystal systems

m3m represents a triad axis and a mirror plane parallel to it and a second one
intersecting it
4/mmm indicates a mirror plane perpendicular to a 4-fold axis and two mirror
planes parallel to the 4-fold axis and intersecting at 45°
mmm denotes three mutually perpendicular mirrors
2 m denotes a diad and a mirror perpendicular to it
Unique mirror plane in a
hexagonal unit cell. Other
planes are generated from
these by symmetry

Unique mirror plane in a


rhombohedral unit cell. Other
planes are generated from this
one by symmetry
Unique mirror plane in a cubic unit
cell. Other planes are generated from
these by symmetry
Triclinic unit cell showing centers
of symmetry at corners of unit cell
Monoclinic unit cell showing two
and between them
planes of the set (010) and one
axis of the set [010]. M irror plane
(020) is also shown

Unique mirror planes in


a tetragonal unit cell.
Other planes present are
generated from these by
Unique mirror planes in an symmetry
orthorhombic unit cell
Sample problems for exercise

Determine the indices for the directions


shown in the following cubic unit cell: For tetragonal crystals, cite the indices of
directions that are equivalent to each of the
following directions:
(a) [101];
(b) [110];
+
1
(c) [010].
1 2
2 3
3 A
1
3
C
2
D
3 B

2 +
3 1, 1 1
2 2 3

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