Crystal lattice

A crystal lattice is a repeating three-dimensional arrangement of points that represents the periodic structure of a crystalline solid. Each point marks an equivalent environment occupied by atoms, ions, or molecules.

Unit cell: The smallest repeating volume that can generate a crystal structure by translation. Repeated unit cells tile space to form the lattice.
Reciprocal lattice: A lattice in reciprocal space encoding the periodicity and allowed diffraction directions of a crystal. Its points determine the directions in which a crystal can diffract radiation.
Crystal defect: A departure from the ideal periodic arrangement of a crystal. Real crystals contain disruptions that the ideal lattice model excludes.
Amorphous solid: A solid that lacks long-range periodic atomic order. Unlike a crystal lattice, its structure does not repeat periodically over long distances.
Lattice point: An abstract point in a periodic array marking an equivalent position in a crystal. Each lattice point represents an equivalent environment, not necessarily a single atom.
Bragg's law: The condition relating wavelength, crystal-plane spacing, and angle for constructive diffraction. It links lattice-plane spacing to the angles of diffraction peaks.
Dislocation: A line defect in a crystal lattice around which atoms are misaligned. Dislocations explain how lattice structures deform under applied stress.
Quasicrystal: A solid with long-range ordered structure but no periodic translational symmetry. Quasicrystals challenge the assumption that crystalline order requires a repeating lattice.
Bravais lattice: One of 14 distinct three-dimensional lattice types classified by translational symmetry. Bravais lattices classify the possible periodic geometries of crystal lattices.
X-ray crystallography: A method that infers atomic structures from X-ray diffraction by crystalline materials. Diffraction data reveal the periodic arrangement represented by a crystal lattice.

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