Space Lattice

space lattice [′spās ‚lad·əs]

(building construction)

A space frame built of lattice girders.

(crystallography)

lattice

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space lattice

A space frame constructed of lattice girders.

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Space Lattice 

a three-dimensional periodic system of points located at the vertexes of identical parallelepipeds that are positioned flush against each other, face-to-face, and fill space without gaps. The points and parallelepipeds are periodically repeated in space by means of translations. Rows and lattice planes can be identified in a space lattice. The rows are sets of points that lie along a single straight line and are repeated at identical intervals. The planes are sets of points that lie in the same plane and are located at the vertexes of identical parallelograms that are identically oriented, are flush against each other, and fill the plane without gaps.

The space lattice is the simplest geometric scheme for a crystal lattice. The lattice points, or lattice sites, symbolize the particles—atoms, ions, or molecules—or groups of particles that are repeated symmetrically in the structure. Lattice planes correspond to the faces of a crystal, and the rows correspond to the crystal’s edges. A total of 14 types of space lattices can be formed (seeBRAVAIS LATTICE).

REFERENCES

Bokii, G. B. Kristallokhimiia, 3rd ed. Moscow, 1971.
Belov, N. V. Strukturnaia kristallografiia. Moscow, 1951.

M. P. SHASKOL’SKAIA