Difference between revisions of "Bravais class"
From Online Dictionary of Crystallography
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| − | <font color="blue">Classe Bravais</font> (''Fr''). <font color="red">Bravais-klasse</font> (''Ge''). <font color="black">Classe di Bravais</font> (''It''). <font color="purple">ブラベー類</font> (''Ja''). <font color="green">Clase de Bravais</font> (''Sp''). | + | <font color="blue">Classe Bravais</font> (''Fr''). <font color="red">Bravais-klasse</font> (''Ge''). <font color="black">Classe di Bravais</font> (''It''). <font color="purple">ブラベー類</font> (''Ja''). <font color="green">Clase de Bravais</font> (''Sp''). <font color="firebrick">布拉维类</font> (''Zh''). |
== Definition == | == Definition == | ||
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For example, a space group of type ''I''4<sub>1</sub> belongs to the arithmetic crystal class 4''I'', to which two Bravais arithmetic classes can be associated, 4/''mmmI'' and <math>m{\bar 3}mI</math>. The second condition uniquely assigns ''G'' to the Bravais class of 4/''mmmI'', despite the fact that the Bravais arithmetic class of the lattice may be <math>m{\bar 3}mI</math> as a result of accidental symmetry. | For example, a space group of type ''I''4<sub>1</sub> belongs to the arithmetic crystal class 4''I'', to which two Bravais arithmetic classes can be associated, 4/''mmmI'' and <math>m{\bar 3}mI</math>. The second condition uniquely assigns ''G'' to the Bravais class of 4/''mmmI'', despite the fact that the Bravais arithmetic class of the lattice may be <math>m{\bar 3}mI</math> as a result of accidental symmetry. | ||
| − | In earlier editions | + | == Note == |
| + | In earlier editions of ''International Tables for Crystallography, Volume A'', Bravais classes were called ''Bravais flocks''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In those editions, ''Bravais class'' was used as an abbreviation for ''Bravais arithmetic crystal class'', which is now abbreviated as ''[[Bravais arithmetic class]]''. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Latest revision as of 14:31, 10 July 2026
Classe Bravais (Fr). Bravais-klasse (Ge). Classe di Bravais (It). ブラベー類 (Ja). Clase de Bravais (Sp). 布拉维类 (Zh).
Definition
Space groups that are assigned to the same Bravais arithmetic class belong to the same Bravais class of space groups.
The introduction of the concept of Bravais class is necessary in order to classify space groups on the basis of their Bravais type of lattice, independently from any accidental metric of the lattice.
An orthorhombic crystal may have accidentally a = b and have a tetragonal lattice not because of symmetry restrictions but just by accident. If the Bravais types of lattices were used directly to classify space groups, such a crystal would belong to another category with respect to an orthorhombic crystal without specialized metric. The concept of Bravais class solves this ambiguity.
A space group G is assigned to a Bravais arithmetic class on the basis of the corresponding point group P and the arithmetic crystal class associated with it:
- if the arithmetic crystal class of G is a Bravais arithmetic class, then G is assigned to that Bravais arithmetic class;
- if the arithmetic crystal class of G is not a Bravais arithmetic class, then the Bravais arithmetic class to which G is assigned is obtained as follows:
- those Bravais arithmetic classes are retained whose point group B is such that P is a subgroup of B;
- G is assigned to that Bravais arithmetic class, among those selected above, for which the ratio of the order of the point groups of B and of P is minimal.
For example, a space group of type I41 belongs to the arithmetic crystal class 4I, to which two Bravais arithmetic classes can be associated, 4/mmmI and [math]m{\bar 3}mI[/math]. The second condition uniquely assigns G to the Bravais class of 4/mmmI, despite the fact that the Bravais arithmetic class of the lattice may be [math]m{\bar 3}mI[/math] as a result of accidental symmetry.
Note
In earlier editions of International Tables for Crystallography, Volume A, Bravais classes were called Bravais flocks.
In those editions, Bravais class was used as an abbreviation for Bravais arithmetic crystal class, which is now abbreviated as Bravais arithmetic class.
See also
- Chapter 1.3.4.4.1 of International Tables for Crystallography, Volume A, 6th edition