ABSTRACT
An x-ray diffraction pattern of a single quartz crystal recorded on an x-ray diffractometer. The white spots are the diffraction maxima. The distribution of the diffraction maxima is sparse. They are widely spaced compared to their size. They form a regular pattern described by the reciprocal lattice. Crystallographers begin with the reciprocal lattice and work back to the direct lattice. The reciprocal lattice is a property of the crystal, just like the direct lattice, the unit cell, the color, the chemical composition, or the index of refraction. (Courtesy of Prof. Ross Angel.)
Draw the reciprocal cell superimposed on the direct cell with normalized volumes.•
Relate the reciprocal lattice to the diffraction pattern.•
Relate the transformation matrix • P of the direct lattice to the transformations of the reciprocal lattice.
