Miller Indices
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Definition
Miller indices are used to specify directions and planes.
These directions and planes could be in lattices or in crystals. The number of indices will match with the dimension of the lattice or the crystal. E.g. in 1D there will be 1 index and 2D there will be two indices etc.
Notation Summary
(h,k,l) represents a point note the exclusive use of commas
Negative numbers/directions are denoted with a bar on top of the number
[hkl] represents a direction
<hkl> represents a family of directions
(hkl) represents a plane {hkl} represents a family of planes
Miller Indices for Directions
A vector r passing from the origin to a lattice point can be written as:
r = r1 a + r2 b + r3 c where, a, b, c basic vectors and miller indices (r1r2r3)
Fractions in (r1r2r3) are eliminated by multiplying all components by their common denominator. [e.g. (1, , ) will be expressed as (432)]
Example
Miller Indices [42]
Example (contd)
Miller Indices [42]
The index represents a set of all such parallel vectors
Miller Indices for Planes: Procedure
1. Identify the plane intercepts on the x, y and z-axes. 2. Specify intercepts in fractional coordinates. 3. Take the reciprocals of the fractional intercepts.
Miller Indices for Planes: Illustration
Consider the plane in pink, which is one of an infinite number of parallel plane each a consistent distance (a) away from the origin (purple planes)
The plane intersects the x-axis at point a. It runs parallel along y and z axes. Thus, this plane can be designated as (1,,)
Likewise, the yellow plane can be designated as (,1,) And the green plane can be written as (,,1)
Miller Indices are the reciprocals of the parameters of each crystal face. Thus: Pink Face = (1/1, 1/, 1/) = (100) Green Face = (1/, 1/, 1/1) = (001) Yellow Face = (1/, 1/1, 1/) = (010)
Examples
Whats the Miller Index of this plane?
Miller Indices
he erest the phic
Index?
Examples (contd)
The plane of interest cuts two of the crystallographic axes. Intercepts: (1,1, ) (110)
This
Miller Indices
time, the plane of interest cuts two of the crystallographic axes.
The
Miller Index?
Examples (contd)
Miller Index?
Miller Indices
ne cuts all stallographic
ler Index?
Examples (contd)
This plane cuts all three crystallographic axes. Intercepts = (1,1,1) (111)
Miller Indices
This
plane cuts all three crystallographic axes. Miller Index?
The
Examples (contd)
Miller Index? (Difficult one)
Miller Indices
plane he phic
onally
Examples (contd)
This plane cuts two of the reference axes, but not equidimensionally. Intercepts: 1, 0) (210) Tricky; this(, plane
Miller Indices
cuts two of the crystallographic axes, but not equidimensionally
Family of Directions
Its a set of directions related by symmetry operations of the lattice.
Index Members in family for cubic lattice
<100> [100],[100],[010],[010],[001],[001]
<110> [110],[110],[110],[110],[101],[101],[101],[101],[011],[011],[011],[011]
<111> [111],[111],[111],[111],[111],[111],[111],[111]
Importance of Miller Indices
In Materials Science it is important to have a notation system for atomic planes since these planes influence
Optical properties Reactivity Surface tension Dislocations
