Point configuration

Configuration ponctuelle (Fr.). Punktkonfiguration (Ge). Configurazione puntuale (It)

Introduction

The concept of point configuration is closely related to that of crystallographic orbit, but differs from it by the fact that point configurations are detached from their generating space groups. The concept of point configuration is the basis for the definition of lattice complexes.

Definition

Two crystallographic orbits are said configuration-equivalent if and only if their sets of points are identical. A point configuration is the set of all points that is common to a class of configuration-equivalent crystallographic orbits.

This definition uniquely assigns crystallographic orbits to point configurations ut not vice versa.

Other terms used by different authors:

• regelmässiges Punktsystem
• regular system of points

See also

• Chapter 14 of International Tables of Crystallography, Section A