crystal
Crystal
A solid in which the atoms or molecules are arranged periodically. Within a crystal, many identical parallelepiped unit cells, each containing a group of atoms, are packed together to fill all space (see illustration). In scientific nomenclature, the term crystal is usually short for single crystal, a single periodic arrangement of atoms. Most gems are single crystals. However, many materials are polycrystalline, consisting of many small grains, each of which is a single crystal. For example, most metals are polycrystalline. See Single crystal
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In electronics, the term crystal is restricted to mean piezoelectric crystal. Piezoelectric crystals contract or expand under application of electric voltages, and conversely they generate voltages when compressed. They are used for oscillators, pressure sensors, and position actuators. See Piezoelectricity
The anisotropic microscopic structure of a crystal is often reflected in its external form, consisting of flat faces and sharp edges. Crystal structure is generally determined via diffraction of x-rays, neutrons, or electrons. Unlike disordered materials such as glasses or liquids, the diffraction pattern of a periodic array of atoms consists of individual sharp spots. The symmetry and structure of the crystal can be inferred from the symmetry of the diffraction pattern and the intensities of the diffracted beams. See Electron diffraction, Neutron diffraction, X-ray diffraction
A crystal can be characterized by the symmetry operations that leave its structure invariant. These can include rotation about an axis through a specific angle, reflection through a plane, inversion through a point, translations by a unit cell dimension, and combinations of these. For a periodic structure, the only allowable rotational symmetries are 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold, and 6-fold. A quasicrystal is a solid which yields a sharp diffraction pattern but has rotational symmetries (such as 5-fold or 10-fold) which are inconsistent with a periodic arrangement of atoms. See Quasicrystal
A plastic crystal is generally composed of organic molecules which are rotationally disordered. The centers of the molecules lie at well-defined, periodically spaced positions, but the orientations of the molecules are random. Plastic crystals are often very soft and may flow under their own weight.
A liquid crystal is a material which is intermediate in structure between a liquid and a solid. Liquid crystals usually flow like liquids but have some degree of internal order. They are generally composed of rodlike organic molecules, although in some cases they are composed of disklike molecules. In a nematic liquid crystal, the rods all have the same general orientation, but the positions of the rods are disordered. In a smectic liquid crystal, rodlike molecules are ordered into sheets, within which there is only liquidlike order. A smectic can thus be thought of as being crystalline in one dimension and liquid in the other two. In a discotic liquid crystal, disklike molecules are ordered into columnar arrays; there is short-range liquidlike order within the columns, but the columns form a two-dimensional crystal. See Crystal defects, Crystal growth, Crystal structure, Crystallography
What does it mean when you dream about a crystal?
A crystal can represent something beautiful or even spiritual. Alternatively, it can mean something that has “crystallized,” either in the sense of manifesting or in the sense of becoming rigid. We are also familiar with “crystal” balls that are used to divine the future.
crystal
[′krist·əl]crystal
Crystal
A recursion equation parallel language.
["A Parallel Language and its Compilation to Multiprocessor Machines or VLSI", M.C. Chen, 13th POPL, ACM 1986 pp.131-139].
crystal
A solid material that contains a uniform arrangement of molecules. See crystalline, nanocrystal and quartz crystal.Crystal
a special type of glass containing large quantities of lead oxide or barium oxide. The name “crystal” was given by analogy with rock crystal. Crystal may be decorated by etching, faceting, cutting, and polishing. Because of the lead content and the specific arrangement of angles formed by the facets, objects made from crystal disperse a play of unusually bright, multicolored light.