CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC DIRECTION INDICES

HOW TO index (specify) crystal directions

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC DIRECTION INDICES ARE VECTOR COMPONENTS OF THE DIRECTION RESOLVED

ALONG EACH OF THE AXES REDUCED TO SMALLEST INTIGER.

Let us find the direction of the lattice point A

First get the vector representation of the direction OA. For this:

1. Go one unit in y direction

2. Go one unit in x direction and
3. Go zero unit in z- direction

Now the direction for A is: (1-0), (1-0), (0-0)

In vector form this will be (1-0)I + (1-0)j +(0-0)k, or 1i+1j+ok, where I, j, and k are unit vectors.

By the definition of direction these are the vector components reduced to smallest intiger.

Therefore resolving along each axis this means 1 unit along x axis, 1 unit along y axis and 0 unit along z
axis.

That is [1 1 0]

As these are the smallest set of intigers we cannot further reduce them. So the crystallographic indices
are [110].
This represents a direction and not a location nof the lattice point. It only tells us what direction with
respect to the origin a lattice point or plane is present.

For Eg. In the case of an FCC lattice, as there is a lattice point at the centre of each face, the coordinates
for this lattice point along the three direction are:½ alon x, ½ along y and 0 along z axis respectively.

So first find the lattice point

That is the lattice point here is represented by the coordinates: ½, ½, 0.

Then find the vector representing this lattice point: It will be:

(½-0)i+ (½-0)j+(0-0)k or 1/2i + 1/2j+0k . This gives the vector as 1/2 ½ 0.

Then Reduce these to smallest integers 11 0

Finally put them in closed brackets [110]

TO FIND THE DIRECTION INDICES OF A LATTICE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION

Here the vector representing the direction is (0-1/2)I + (0-1/2)j + (0-0)k or -1/2i+-1/2j +0k
Resolving along the axes the indices are -/2 -1/2 and 0

Reducing to smallest intigers this becomes: -1 -1 and 0

Therefore the direction indices are [ Ī Ī0]

Negative index is shown as BAR #

ANOTHER METHOD TO FIND THE DIRECTION INDICES IS TO CHANGE THE

ORIGIN
Note that the direction indices will change if we change the origin.

The principle is that, change the origin if it simplifies things

Procedure:
0. Transalate the origin
1. Determine projection on to x, y and z axes
2. Reduce to lowest intiger
3. Enclose in square brackets

EXAMPLE 1
X Y Z
Projection -1 0 -1
Reduction -1 0 -1
Enclosure [101]

X Y Z
Projection 0 -1/2 -1
Reduction 0 -1 -2
Enclosure [012]
HOW TO CHANGE THE ORIGIN

Rule 1:

If there is a bar over the number (x,y, or z), the new origin O’ should have 1 in the same
plane (x,y or z) as the bared number. If there is not a bar over the number the new origin O’
should have a zero in the same plane as the unbarred number.

Example

DIRECTION NEW ORIGIN

PROCEDURE:

1. Create origin at the tale, if necessary and label it as O’

2. Find coordinates from tail at O’ to head at direction x y z
3. Reduce to lowest whole number
4. Enclose

Example problem:

Draw the specified direction in the unit cell given below:

1. Select x = 1/2
2. Reduce y = -1
3. Locate z=1
4. Draw
FAMILES OF DIRECTIONS OR EQUIVALENT DIRECTIONS

Directions which are related by the symmetry operations of the lattice are equivalent and they
belong to the same family of directions. Same atoms in the same positioning form family of
directions.

EXAMPLE: FACE DIAGONELS

PROBLEMS

1. Draw the planes for the direction indices (011), (100)

2.