Crystalline Properties of Solids

Abstract

In this Chapter, the structure of crystals has been described. The concepts of Bravais lattice, crystal systems, unit cell, point groups, space groups, Miller indices and packing factor have been introduced. The symmetry properties of crystals have been discussed. The most common crystal structures for semiconductors have been described. We have also introduced the concept of the reciprocal lattice. We have shown that for every periodic lattice in real space R , it is possible; to construct a periodic reciprocal lattice in K $ space. The reciprocal lattice is the lattice in so called momentum space. The Wigner Seitz cell of the reciprocal lattice is called the first Brillouin zone