7.

Reciprocal lattice System

• When we observe diffraction patterns, the diffraction spot form a
picture of crystal lattice. This periodic structure like lattice is not
direct picture of crystal but image of actual crystal. This is called
reciprocal lattice
• reciprocal lattice points are inverse of actual lattice points. Thus the
distance in reciprocal lattice system is 1/ distance corresponding to
actual distance d in actual crystal lattice
• All the periodic points of reciprocal lattice form a reciprocal lattice
system. Such space is called reciprocal space or Fourier space
• In direct lattice system, the lattice vectors are denoted by
similarly in reciprocal lattice system, the
reciprocal lattice vectors are denoted by
• Any vector in reciprocal space called a reciprocal vector G can also
be given as
 Construction of Reciprocal lattice:
• 1. Consider a crystal lattice in
real space as shown in figure.
We know that a plane (hkl)
shows a set of parallel
equidistance planes with
interspacing dhkl.
• 2. Now consider a normal on
any arbitrary lattice point, on
the plane (hkl) and find out a
point at distance 1/ dhkl . This
point is reciprocal lattice
point.
• 3. The array of all such point
are called reciprocal lattice. In
figure ABCD is plane (101)
then C' is reciprocal point.
 Reciprocal lattice of a monoclinic crystal
• monoclinic crystal have lattice constants as shown in figure 2.10. We
construct a unit cell in which vectors are along the plane of paper and
vector is perpendicular to this plane. Consider a plane (h0k) which makes
intercepts at at point A and C, and this plane is parallel to axis . The
normal to this plane is along the direction of plane containing vectors i.e.
plane of paper as shown by vector OO' as shown in figure 2.11. If we goes
1/ dhkl distance from the arbitrary plane (h0k) perpendicular to line AC,
along the direction perpendicular to plane (h0l) i.e. OOˈ, we get the
reciprocal lattice point corresponding to point O.
• We can extend the same manner to get other reciprocal lattice points as
shown in figure 2.12. In this figure OA and OC represent two faces (sides)
of monoclinic crystal. Line AC represents a plane (h0k) which is
perpendicular along line AC. Now for reciprocal point, normal is drawn on
planes (h0l) at a distance 1/dh0l . Similarly, we draw normal to all (hkl)
planes and arranged the points at distance 1/dhkl in the direction of
normals, the three dimensional reciprocal lattice is obtained. It can be
seen that plane (200) have half the interplaner spacing with respect to
plane (100) but reciprocal point (200) is twice far from the origin.
Construction of reciprocal lattice of monoclinic crystal
• monoclinic crystal have lattice constants as

• We construct a unit cell in which 2 vectors are along the plane of

paper and 1 vector is perpendicular to this plane. Consider a plane
(h0k) which makes intercepts at points A and C.
• Line AC represents a plane (h0k) which is perpendicular along line AC .The
normal to this plane is along the direction of vector OO'
• If we goes 1/ dhkl distance from the arbitrary plane (h0k) along OOˈ, we get
the reciprocal lattice point corresponding to point O.
• Similarly, extend the same manner.
• draw normal to all (hkl) planes and arranged the points at distance 1/dhkl
in the direction of normals, the three dimensional reciprocal lattice is
obtained.
• It can be seen that plane (200) have half the interplaner spacing with
respect to plane (100) but reciprocal point (200) is twice far from the
origin.
 7. Reciprocal lattice vectors:
• Reciprocal lattice vector is defined as the vector has
magnitude 1/dhkl and direction perpendicular to the plane
(hkl). Generally reciprocal lattice vector is denoted by

• If lattice vectors of a crystal are denoted by in direct

lattice system and in reciprocal lattice system, the reciprocal
lattice vectors are denoted by then the volume of
crystal unit cell in direct lattice system can be given by

• For simplest case if we choose plane (100) then

The fundamental reciprocal lattice vector are defined as

Similarly

Since each reciprocal vector is orthogonal to two axis vectors of direct lattice

Above relations are equally valid if we introduce a term 2π,

since wave vector is k= 2π/λ thus the reciprocal lattice vectors are
 9.1 Reciprocal lattice of simple cubic crystal:

• Consider unit cell in a simple cubic crystal which have primitive

lattice vectors indirect lattice system is given by

Where are unit vector along x y z Axis respectively. Now the

reciprocal lattice vectors are given as

Thus a simple cubic lattice of lattice parameter a, transformers to a

simple cubic lattice of lattice parameter in reciprocal lattice
system. Figure 2.13 and 2.14 show the simple cubic lattice in direct
and reciprocal lattice system.
9.2 Reciprocal lattice of body centered cubic crystal:
• The primitive lattice vectors bcc crystal in direct lattice
system is given as

• These vectors are shown in figure 2.15. Now the reciprocal

lattice vectors are given as

If we recall fcc crystal lattice the primitive vectors can be given

Thus we can say that the unit cell of body centered cubic lattice
in reciprocal lattice space is a face centered with lattice.
 9.3. Reciprocal lattice to fcc crystal:
• Consider a unit cell of fcc crystal with lattice
parameter a. The primitive lattice vectors for fcc
crystal are given as

• Figure 2.16 represents a fcc lattice. Reciprocal

lattice vectors of this unit cell is given

• Thus the reciprocal lattice to fcc in the form of bcc

lattice with lattice parameter to . Figure 2.15 can
be considered as reciprocal lattice to fcc.
 10. Diffraction condition in Reciprocal lattice system:
• In direct letter system, diffraction takes place when the
condition 2d sin θ=nλ is satisfied. This condition can also be
obtained from reciprocal lattice system.
• We know the reciprocal points are the points 1/dhkl distant
along a normal to crystal plane (h k l). Now consider a
reciprocal lattice space which has a large number of such
reciprocal lattice points as shown in figure 2.17.
• Take a Reciprocal lattice point O as a centre, we draw a circle of
radius 1/λ which is called Eward circle in two dimensional
space, and in three dimension it is called Eward sphere.
• Eward stated that whenever a beam of x rays coming in the
direction OA and strikes at point O, the centre of circle, and if
the beam diffracted in the direction OB and passes through any
another lattice point B on the circle, then the Bragg diffraction
takes place.
• Support an x-ray beam is coming in the direction of OA, strike
at a lattice point O where a crystal is placed then OA
represents the incident wave vector k
• The incident wave strikes at point O, the diffracted x ray k'
passes through another lattice point B on the circle then
Bragg diffraction occurs.
• Thus the reciprocal vector AB = G can be given as

• If we draw a perpendicular bisector of a vector AB, then it

passes through point N where ON is nothing but plane of
diffraction (h k l) which is perpendicular to plane of paper.
• We know that the separation between two reciprocal planes
is dhkl then distance between points A and B in reciprocal
space can be given as:
• Similarly by geometry

using above two expressions for a AB

This is nothing but diffraction condition in direct lattice system.

• Now we find out the diffraction condition in reciprocal lattice
system. We know that in reciprocal space (Fourier space) the
lattice parameter is denoted by wave vector k' . Figure 2.18 is
the simplified representation of diffraction in reciprocal lattice
system shown. Now

• Since OA and OB are radius of the Eward circle and magnitude

of both vectors are same only direction are different thus

• This is diffraction condition in reciprocal lattice system

 11. Brillouin Zones:
• The concept of a Brillouin zone was developed by Leon Brillouin (1889–1969),
a French physicist.
• In direct lattice system we defined Wigner Seitz cell which is nothing but a
type of unit cell constructed by the area enclosed by perpendicular bisectors
of nearest neighbours.
• If we construct a unit cell by area enclosed by perpendicular bisectors of
nearest neighbours reciprocal lattice points that is called Brilloun zone.
• The first Brillouin zone: Now we draw perpendicular bisectors AB, BC, CD, DA
of first nearest neighbor points, then the area enclosed by these
perpendicular bisectors, i.e. ABCD is called first Brillouin zone.
• Similarly, the areas enclosed by the perpendicular bisectors of second nearest
neighbous, EFGH, give the second Brillioin zone.
• There are also third, etc., Brillouin zones, corresponding to a sequence of
disjoint regions (all with the same volume) at increasing distances from the
origin, but these are used less frequently.
• the first Brillouin zone is often called simply the Brillouin zone.
• In general, the n-th Brillouin zone consists of the set of points that can be
reached from the origin by crossing exactly n − 1 distinct Bragg planes.
 Brillouin zone In three dimensional space
• In three dimensional space, Brillouin zone is the
minimum volume under perpendicular bisectors of
Bragg planes in reciprocal lattice space.
• Brillouin zone can also be understood by Eward
construction. According to Eward construction, Bragg
diffraction occurs for all possible value of wave vector
K for which condition satisfies.
• A Brillouin zone is the locus of all such values of K in
reciprocal lattice system for which Bragg diffraction
occurs.
• The importance of the Brillouin zone stems from the
Bloch wave description of waves in a periodic medium,
in which it is found that the solutions can be
completely characterized by their behavior in a single
Brillouin zone.