1. What use is Reciprocal Space? An Introductionx
You
are
here b*
John Bargar
2nd Annual SSRL School on Hard X-ray Scattering Techniques in Materials and Environmental Sciences
May 15-17, 2007

2. The reciprocal lattice is the Fourier transform of the electron density distribution in a crystal.
Scattering from a crystal occurs when the following expression is non-zero:

3. OUTLINE I. What is the reciprocal lattice? II. How do you use it?
Bragg’s law.
Ewald sphere.
Reciprocal Lattice.
II. How do you use it?
Types of scans:
Longitudinal or θ-2θ,
Rocking curve scan
Arbitrary reciprocal space scan

4. Starting from Braggs’ law…
Good phenomenologically
Good enough for a Nobel
prize (1915)
Bragg’s Law: 2d sin q = n l d q A B A’ B’ 2q
BUT…
There are a gabillion planes in a crystal.
How do we keep track of them?
How do we know where they will diffract (single xtals)?
What are their diffraction intensities?
BUT…
There are a gabillion planes in a crystal.
How do we keep track of them?
How do we know where they will diffract (single xtals)?
What are their diffraction intensities?

5. Better approach…
Make a “map” of the diffraction conditions of the crystal.
For example, define a map spot for each diffraction condition.
Each spot represents kajillions of parallel atomic planes.
Such a map could provide a convenient way to describe the
relationships between planes in a crystal – a considerable
simplification of a messy and redundant problem. In the end,
we’ll show that the reciprocal lattice provides such a map…

6. To show this, start again from diffracting planes…
Notice that |s-s0| = 2Sinθ
Substitute in Bragg’s law…
1/d = 2Sinθ/λ …
Diffraction occurs when
|s-s0|/λ = 1/d
(Note, for those familiar with q…
q = 2π|s-s0|
Bragg’s law:
q = 2π/d = 4πSinθ/ λ
Define unit vectors s0, s q A’ B’ A
s – s0
s – s0 s0 s B q s0 d 2q d

7. To show this, start again from diffracting planes…
Define a map point at the end of the scattering vector at Bragg condition
Diffraction occurs when
scattering vector connects to
map point.
Scattering vectors (s-s0/λ or q) have reciprocal lengths (1/λ).
Diffraction points define a reciprocal lattice.
Vector representation carries Bragg’s law into 3D.
Map point
s – s0 λ q A’ B’ A B q d 2q d

8. Families of planes become points!
Single point now represents all planes in all unit cells of the crystal that are parallel to the crystal plane of interest and have same d value.
s – s0 λ A’ A
s0/λ
s/λ B q B’ d d

9. Ewald Sphere
Circumscribe circle with radius 2/λ around scattering vectors… A’
Diffraction occurs only when map point intersects circle. A
s/λ
s – s0 λ
=1/d
s0/λ

10. Thus, the RECIPROCAL LATTICE is obtained Reciprocal Lattice Axes:
Distances between origin and RL points give 1/d.
Reciprocal Lattice Axes:
a* normal to a-b plane
b* normal to a-c plane
c* normal to b-c plane
Index RL points based upon axes
Each point represents all parallel crystal planes. Eg., all planes parallel to the a-c plane are captured by (010) spot.
Families of planes become points!
s – s0 λ s
1/d b* s0
(010)
Origin
(110) a*
(200)

11. Reciprocal Lattice of γ-LiAlO2
(008)
(600)
(004)
(400)
(200) a* a* c* a* b* c*
(110)
(020)
(200)
(400)
(600)
(040)
(060)
Projection along c: hk0 layer Note 4-fold symmetry
Projection along b: h0l layer
a = b = 5.17 Å; c = 6.27 Å; P41212 (tetragonal)
a* = b* = 0.19 Å-1; c* = 0.16 Å-1
general systematic absences (00ln; l≠4), ([2n-1]00)

12. In a powder, orientational averaging produces rings instead of spots

13. OUTLINE I. What is the reciprocal lattice? II. How do you use it?
Bragg’s law.
Ewald sphere.
Reciprocal Lattice.
II. How do you use it?
Types of scans:
Longitudinal or θ-2θ,
Rocking curve scan
Arbitrary reciprocal space scan

14. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ s0 s

15. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ
s-s0/λ
Reciprocal lattice rotates by θ during scan

16. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ
s-s0/λ 2q

17. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ
s-s0/λ 2q

18. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ
s-s0/λ 2q

19. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ
s-s0/λ 2q

20. 1. Longitudinal or θ-2θ scan
Sample moves on θ, Detector follows on 2θ
s-s0/λ 2q
Note scan is linear in units of Sinθ/λ - not θ!
Provides information about relative arrangements, angles, and spacings between crystal planes.

21. 2. Rocking Curve scan Sample moves on θ, Detector fixed
Provides information on sample mosaicity & quality of orientation
First crystallite
Second crystallite
Third crystallite
s-s0/λ 2q

22. 2. Rocking Curve scan Sample moves on θ, Detector fixed
Provides information on sample mosaicity & quality of orientation
Reciprocal lattice rotates by θ during scan
s-s0/λ 2q

23. 3. Arbitrary Reciprocal Lattice scans
Choose path through RL to satisfy experimental need, e.g., CTR measurements
s-s0/λ 2q

24. In practice q is used instead of s-s0
A note about “q”
In practice q is used instead of s-s0
|q| = |k’-k0| = 2π * |s-s0|
|q| = 4πSinθ/λ q q A’ B’ A k0 k’ B q d 2q d

25. What we haven’t talked about:
Intensities of peaks (Vailionis)
Peak width & shape (Vailionis)
Scattering from non-crystalline materials (Huffnagel)
Scattering from whole particles or voids (Pople)
Scattering from interfaces (Trainor)

26. The End
The Beginning…

27. Graphical Representation of Bragg’s Law
Bragg’s law is obeyed for any triangle inscribed within the circle: Sinθ = (1/d)/(2/λ) A’ A q
= 1/d
2/λ q s0 s
s – s0 s0