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What does "Bravais Lattices" mean?

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Bravais lattices are specific ways that points can be arranged in space to form a repeating pattern. These patterns help us understand how structures are built at the atomic level.

Types of Bravais Lattices

There are several types of Bravais lattices, with the most common being cubic lattices. In cubic lattices, the points are arranged in a way that each point has identical surroundings, creating a symmetrical structure.

Slip and Twinning

In the study of these lattices, two main concepts arise: slip and twinning. Slip refers to the way layers of points can slide over each other, while twinning involves a reflection of the lattice across a plane. Both mechanisms help in understanding how materials deform under stress.

Importance of Measuring Lattices

To compare different Bravais lattices, scientists use unit cells, which are the smallest repeating units of the lattice. By measuring the differences between these unit cells, researchers can figure out how similar or different various lattices are.

Challenges in Measuring

Measuring distances between lattices can be complex and requires careful calculations. Scientists have developed methods to simplify this process, allowing for better comparisons of the structures over different dimensions.

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