Structure factor FCC (final 2018 1b)

Maybe a bit late, but I have a question about the structure factor of the FCC lattice.

The answer model (and the lecture notes for X-rays) state that the structure factor of the FCC latice is S = f × (1 + e^{iπ(h+l)} + e^{iπ(h+k)} + e^{iπ(k+l)}). I believe the reasoning is that (for example) for the second term we have r=(a_1+a_2)/2 and G=hb_1+kb_2+lb_3, thus G\dot r=(ha_1*b_1+ka_2b_2)/2 and then a_i*b_i=2\pi is used. My problem is: earlier in the lecture notes, it was stated that the last equation was true for the primitive lattice vectors, but the a_i that are used in the problem are conventional lattice vectors. When I calculate the primitive vectors, I get G=2\pi/a*((-h+k+l)x+(h-k+l)y+(h+k-l)z) and the structure factor becomes f(1+e^{2\pi h}+e^{2\pi k}+e^{2\pi l})=4f.

I was wondering what part of my reasoning is wrong.

a_i \cdot b_i = 2 \pi is the definition of the reciprocal lattice vectors, and it always holds.

Hi,
This example is even solved in Wikipedia. Just make sure the vectors you are using are consistent, meaning your b_i are computed from your a_i, and you are not mixing different things.

1 Like