DESCRIBING CRYSTALS MATHEMATICALLY

Three directional vectors

Three distances: a, b, c
Three angles: 
ll points can be described
using coordinate system in
terms of the three vectors
qa, rb, sc
In cubic systems, symmetry
makes a = b = c and
 = 90o

Describe points using

(q, r, s)
CRYSTAL DIRECTIONS

Directions are represented by

arrows
Labeled as [hkl] where h,k,l
represent the coordinates of the
point they pass through, when they
originate from the origin
Directions in crystals are like
compass points; they don’t depend
on where they start from
All directions parallel to [111] are
all [111], similar to north being
north regardless of where you are
standing.
CRYSTAL PLANES

Planes are described using

Miller Indices
They are the reciprocals of
the intercepts on the major
axes, reduced to the lowest
possible integers
Represented by (hkl)
In (001) the intercepts are
∞ for the x and y axes as they
are parallel; and 1 for the z
axis
All parallel planes have the
same Miller Indices
CRYSTAL PLANES

In (110)
There are intercepts on the
x and y axes
The plane is parallel to the
z axis
Intercepts are
for h
for k
for l
CRYSTAL PLANES

For (111)
There are three
intercepts
All at one unit vector
FOR FCC
THIS IS THE
HEXAGONAL
PLANE
IT IS THE CLOSEST
PACKED PLANE
 SUMMARY OF MEANINGS OF PARENTHESES

(q,r,s) represents a point – note the exclusive use of commas

[hkl] represents a direction

<hkl> represents a family of directions

(hkl) represents a plane

{hkl} represents a family of planes