Why is Reciprocal Space Used in Crystallography?

[atomtm]

Hello !
I have read several threads on this topic but I don't seem to fully understand the reason for using the reciprocal space in crystallography .
Can anyone please provide more information on this subject ?

 

[M Quack]

Because crystallography in reciprocal space is actually a lot easier..

Bragg's law in reciprocal space reads:

Q=G

That is all. It does not get any simpler than that.

Q is the different between the incident and scattered beam's wave vectors

G is a reciprocal space vector, G= H a* + K b* + L c*. No messy dividing by square roots to determine d-spacings etc.

All the factors that contribute to the intensities of Bragg peaks also depend on variables in reciprocal space, like form factors, structure factors, etc.

 

[atomtm]

:) That was nice !
By the way M Quack you give great help here. Thank you !
Awesome forum !

 

[M Quack]

my pleasure.