Definitions and conventions

Basis vectors

In this package, basis vectors are represented by three-column vectors:

\[\mathbf{a} = \begin{bmatrix} a_x \\ a_y \\ a_z \end{bmatrix}, \quad \mathbf{b} = \begin{bmatrix} b_x \\ b_y \\ b_z \end{bmatrix}, \quad \mathbf{c} = \begin{bmatrix} c_x \\ c_y \\ c_z \end{bmatrix},\]

in Cartesian coordinates. Depending on the situation, $\begin{bmatrix} \mathbf{a}_1 & \mathbf{a}_2 & \mathbf{a}_3 \end{bmatrix}$ is used instead of $\begin{bmatrix} \mathbf{a} & \mathbf{b} & \mathbf{c} \end{bmatrix}$.

Therefore, a lattice is represented as

\[\mathrm{A} = \begin{bmatrix} \mathbf{a} & \mathbf{b} & \mathbf{c} \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a_x & b_x & c_x \\ a_y & b_y & c_y \\ a_z & b_z & c_z \end{bmatrix}.\]