August 16, 2022

Lecture-5
Course no:508

SOLID STATE
PHYSICS
Classification of Lattices on
the basis of Symmetry
Dr. Syed Rizwan Ali

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI

Role of Symmetry for the classification of lattices
Let us take a simple example of a 2D-square lattice;
Symmetry of a SQUARE lattice: TRANSLATIONAL
 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑 are lattice
translational vectors.
𝟒
 These translational
𝟑
vectors are also called
Translational Operators
𝟐
𝟓 because they translate
𝟏
ALL the lattice points

 TRANSLATIONAL GROUP: Collection of all lattice

translations or collection of all translational symmetry.
Symmetry of a SQUARE lattice: NON- TRANSLATIONAL
Point symmetry: Rotations and Reflections

Four 4-fold axes

through lattice points

One 4-fold axes

through the center of
primitive square unit
cell

Four 2-fold axes

through mid points
of lines joining near
neighbors lattice
points

Mirror lines

Point Group: Sum of all Rotations & Reflections operations

Symmetry Groups of a Lattice (Definitions)

Translational Group:
Sum of all translations or all translational operations.

Point Group:
Sum of all Non-translations symmetry operations
(rotations, reflections, inversions etc.,)

Space Group:
Sum of all symmetry elements viz., translations as well as
point symmetry (reflections, rotations, inversions etc.,)

Lattices are classified on the basis of point group

and space group OR Lattices are classified on the
basis of symmetry
Classification of Lattices on the basis of
Symmetry Square and other shape unit cells
are possible
What is a square Lattice?
Squareness of Lattice

 Lattice symmetry decide

the nature of lattice.

 Not the shape of the

unit cell.

A 2D Lattice is called a square lattice if it

has 4 fold axis through all lattice points
Symmetry based Classification of Lattices
LATTICE

7 different point groups 14 different space groups

7 different point symmetry 14 different space symmetry

(rotations + reflections) (point + translations)
Translation & centering

7 different Crystal systems 14 different Bravais lattices

Thus the 7 crystal systems and 14 Bravais lattices are

classified on the basis of characteristic symmetry they
posses, NOT on basis of the shape of the unit cell
 System Unit Cell Parameters Bravais Lattice

1. Cubic P I F

2. Tetragonal P I

3. Orthorhombic P I F C

4. Hexagonal P
Trigonal Or P
5.
Rhombohederal

6. Monoclinic P C
7. Triclinic P
Three Cubic Lattices

Cubic P Cubic I Cubic F

Simple or Primitive Body-centered Face-centered
Cubic Lattice Cubic Lattice Cubic Lattice
sc bcc fcc

NOTE: There is no Cubic C lattice (i.e., End centered or

Base centered Cubic lattice is absent in Bravias set !
The answer to this question was discussed in the class
P
I
F
P
I

P
I
F
C

Continued on next slide

P
C
P 1-fold rotation axis
Least symmetry

P One 3-fold rotation

axis

P 6-fold rotation axis

23 Symmetry elements in a cubic crystal
Centre of symmetry or Center of Inversion
A crystal will possess an inversion center if for every
lattice point given by the position vector , there will be a
corresponding lattice point at the position .
inversion center

 The body center of the cube is a center of symmetry.

 Thus a cube has 1 inversion center.
Reflection Symmetry: Mirror Planes
 A crystal is said to have reflection symmetry about a plane if
it is left unchanged in every way after being reflected by the
plane.

 3 planes of symmetry parallel to the faces of the cube.

 6 diagonal planes of symmetry of the cube.
Rotational Symmetry: Axis of Rotation
6 diad axes 4 traid axes 3 tetrad axes
Three tetrad axis: Four fold rot axes
Orientation of symmetry axes axes

Tetrad

Diad

Traid

Rotational axes
3 Tetrad axes + 4 Traid axes + 6 Diad axes = 13 Axes
Total Symmetry elements in a cube

 Centre of symmetry = 1

 Mirror planes
3 (straight) + 6 (diagonal) = 9

 Rotational axes
3 Tetrad axes + 4 Traid axes + 6 Diad axes = 13 Axes

There are 23 symmetry elements in a cube

Draw the rotational symmetry axes in a cube

Assignment
 Have a look at the above picture and draw it in your notebooks.
Try to understand the orientations of different symmetry axes
(diads, traids and tetraids). [Ref: S. O. Pillai, Chapter 4]
Seven Crystal Systems in 3D
Books
THANK YOU

I would love to have questions that cannot be answered

rather than answers than cannot be questioned !
[Richard Feynman]