###### tags: `Solid State Physics` :::success Based on 1. **"Solid State Physics"** by **Ashcroft** and **Mermin** 2. **"Solid State Physics** course by **Prof. Chi-Feng Pai** The concept of the reciprocal space used in solid state physics and semiconductor physics. Other concepts such as Bloch's theorem will be covered in other notes. ::: [TOC] # Bravais lattice * Fundamental concept specifying the periodic array of repeating units. * Units can be single atoms, molecules, ions, etc. * Bravais lattice only summarize the geometry of the structure. :::warning Two definitions of the Bravais lattice: 1. Infinite array of discrete points with an arrangement that **appears exactly the same**, from whichever direction the array is viewed. 2. All points with the position vectors $\textbf R = n_1a_1+n_2a_2+n_3a_3$ with $n \in \textbf Z$ we should note that we can have many sets of the **(**$\textbf a_1, \textbf a_2, \textbf a_3$**)** as long as it can represents the structure completely. ![Screenshot 2025-08-23 at 12.11.17](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HJ2M7XdYll.png) ::: ## Primitive unit cell **==Cell containing only one lattice point.==** ![Screenshot 2025-08-23 at 12.13.50](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkovNQuKeg.png) * We can see the picture above * **左上角$\rightarrow$** vectors is not limited to only one set * **右上角$\rightarrow$** Three of them can be the primitive unit cell, while the bottom one can't. Because it has two lattice points. * **左下角$\rightarrow$** The example of primitive unit cell. Note that if we make each lattice point the vertex of the shape, it can still be the primitive unit cell ($1/4 \times 4 = 1$). ## Wigner-Seitz primitive cell * **上圖右下角$\rightarrow$** One example of such primitive unit cell. * In **real space** it is the Wigner-Seitz primitive cell. * In **receprocal space** it will be the the first Brillain Zone. ## (Conventional) Unit cell **==What we usually see of FCC and the BCC cell==** * So that the conventional unit cell is what we usually see for the easier representation.But generally it is not the same as the primitive unit cell. ## Basis (for non-Bravais lattice) **==For some structures we should use basis to fully describe it==** ![Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 11.12.54](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BkUUdQuYge.png) * Let's see how we deal with the honeycomb cell. ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BJfmh7uYge.png) * For example, for the BCC and the FCC, we can use **Simple cubic + Basis** to describe them. ![Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 11.29.12](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HyHlc7_Kex.png) ![Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 11.41.30](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HkJsu7OKel.png) * no. of basis = no. of lattice points in that cell **(BCC has two basis $\rightarrow$ two lattice points in unit cell)** * We can think like: if we want to merge bravais lattices, we need basis. **Like BCC, is the merge of two simple cubic bravais lattices.** # X-Ray Diffraction :::success 1. X-Ray's $\lambda$ should have similar value as the lattice constant to have the diffraction. 2. We can further calculate the crirterion in terms of the energy. ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rydXl4utxx.png) ::: ## Bragg vs. Von Laue formulations ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HJ19-Eutxx.png) :::warning ### Bragg formulation * k and k' in the Bragg formulation are wave vectors. * Bragg's one is good and classical, but it doesn't tell you **"Why and how do we choose the plane?"** $\rightarrow$ 我們不知道怎麼選繞射的平面!!! * Furthermore, the lattice points are virtual points and we didn't consider their volume!!! How to make sure that ray does hit the lattice points? ::: :::info ### Von Laue formulation * **More general!!!** * First of all, we don't assume that there're planes of lattice points waiting to be hit. * We assume that there're scattering points at which the light hits. * Distance between lattice points are **described by the Bravais lattice's wave vectors.** * And then, we only need them to satisfy $\vec{K} \cdot \vec{R} = 2\pi n, \quad n \in \mathbb{Z}$ * 必須注意一下的是說我們的兩個波行進方向的wave vector才會是公式中的K, **which being the reciprocal lattice**. * See detailed derivation below ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkqDsV_Ylx.png) ::: * Then now we can derive for the Bragg's plane and fine the reflection point. ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1ByA4uKgl.png) ## X-Ray diffraction method ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/Hkjw04uFee.png) ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/S1kFAEuKgx.png) # Reciprocal lattice :::info The set of all wave vectors $\vec K$ that yield plane waves with the periodicity of a given Bravais lattice is known as its reciprocal lattice. ::: ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HkMzDj_Klg.png) ## Derivation * From the principle of the X-Ray diffraction, and the periodic condition, we can say that $\vec{K} \cdot \vec{R} = 2\pi n, \quad n \in \mathbb{Z}$. * And actually the $(k_1, k_2, k_3)$ in **$\vec K$** are Miller indices (h, k, l). * Above has the equation for calculating $\vec b$, and has the example of simple cubic. * **bigger lattice constant, smaller reciprocal lattice unit vector!!!** $\rightarrow$ 真實空間間隔越大,倒空間間隔越小。 * FCC, BCC 互為reciprocal lattice (Structurewise speaking) ## Lattice planes: Miller indices :::warning Since we know there are reciprocal lattice vectors normal to any family of lattice planes, it is natural to pick a reciprocal lattice vector to represent the normal. (簡而言之,我們數學上不是都會用法向量來表示面嗎?這邊同理) To make the choice unique, one uses the shortest such reciprocal lattice vector. In this way one arrives at **the Miller indices of the plane.** ::: ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ByABaodtll.png) * The denser the lattice plane, the larger the $\vec K$ * d小一點,$|\vec K| = \frac {2\pi}{d}$ larger * 你選定了你的lattice plane後,其就對應到了一個 $\vec K$ * For any family of lattice planes separated by a distance d, **there are reciprocal lattice vectors perpendicular to the planes**, the shortest of which have a length of $2\pi/d$. And Vice versa. * $\vec K = k_1b_1+k_2b_2+k_3b_3$, and $(k_1, k_2, k_3)$ is same as the Miller indices $(h, k, l)$ ## Some comments on k-space * value of $k$ is discrete in $\frac {\hbar^2}{2m}|\vec K|^2$, where $n$ is the band index. ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SJFSv6qYgg.png) * In ground state, electrons can only be filled up to certain ($k_1, k_2, k_3$). * 填越外面能量越高,而且會isotropic的填. * The boundary is called the **fermi surface**, it's radius is called the **fermi wavevector**. * For the first Brillouin zone, $\frac {-a}{\pi}\leq k \leq \frac {a}{\pi}$ * In VASP, the denser the reciprocal phase is sampled, the more accurate the result will be. # Two Fourier Conjugate pairs ## Real vs. Reciprocal :::danger k-domain tells you about electron states in reciprocal space (band structure $E(k)$). ::: * Fourier conjugates in space. * k is the spatial frequency, λ the real-space wavelength. * $k=2\pi/\lambda$ * Solving the Bloch's wavefuncion, the **$\hbar k$ is called the crystal momentum.** ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ByLQA2qKxg.png) ## Time vs. Frequency :::danger ν (or ω) domain: tells you about energies/frequencies of excitations (like phonons, photons, electronic transitions). ::: * Fourier conjugates in time. * ν is the temporal frequency, E is directly proportional. * $E=h\nu=\hbar\omega$