Lattice Structures

Crystaline phases consist of atoms, or molecules, occupying nodes of lattices. Lattices are also interesting as starting configurations for dense disordered phases.

Building a lattice

Here are some ordered structures that are used as starting configurations in the computer simulation of condensed matter. The descriptions are provided with a view to the writing of numerical codes; in other words, a rigorous crystallographic formalism should not be expected.

2-dimensional systems

• Square lattice
• Triangular lattice

3-dimensional systems

• Simple cubic
• Body centered cubic
• Face centered cubic
• Diamond
• Hexagonal close packing
• Alpha-nitrogen structure