The rectangular lattice and rhombic lattice (or centered rectangular lattice) constitute two of the five two-dimensional
Bravais lattice
In geometry and crystallography, a Bravais lattice, named after , is an infinite array of discrete points generated by a set of discrete translation operations described in three dimensional space by
: \mathbf = n_1 \mathbf_1 + n_2 \mathbf_2 + n_ ...
types.
The
symmetry
Symmetry (from grc, συμμετρία "agreement in dimensions, due proportion, arrangement") in everyday language refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In mathematics, "symmetry" has a more precise definit ...
categories of these lattices are
wallpaper group
A wallpaper is a mathematical object covering a whole Euclidean plane by repeating a motif indefinitely, in manner that certain isometries keep the drawing unchanged. To a given wallpaper there corresponds a group of such congruent transformatio ...
s pmm and cmm respectively. The conventional translation vectors of the rectangular lattices form an angle of 90° and are of unequal lengths.
Bravais lattices
There are two rectangular Bravais lattices: primitive rectangular and centered rectangular (also rhombic).
The primitive rectangular lattice can also be described by a centered rhombic unit cell, while the centered rectangular lattice can also be described by a primitive rhombic unit cell. Note that the length
in the lower row is not the same as in the upper row. For the first column above,
of the second row equals
of the first row, and for the second column it equals
.
Crystal classes
The ''rectangular lattice'' class names,
Schönflies notation The Schoenflies (or Schönflies) notation, named after the German mathematician Arthur Moritz Schoenflies, is a notation primarily used to specify point groups in three dimensions. Because a point group alone is completely adequate to describe the ...
,
Hermann-Mauguin notation,
orbifold notation
In geometry, orbifold notation (or orbifold signature) is a system, invented by the mathematician William Thurston and promoted by John Conway, for representing types of symmetry groups in two-dimensional spaces of constant curvature. The advanta ...
,
Coxeter notation
In geometry, Coxeter notation (also Coxeter symbol) is a system of classifying symmetry groups, describing the angles between fundamental reflections of a Coxeter group in a bracketed notation expressing the structure of a Coxeter-Dynkin diagram ...
, and
wallpaper groups
A wallpaper is a mathematical object covering a whole Euclidean plane by repeating a motif indefinitely, in manner that certain isometries keep the drawing unchanged. To a given wallpaper there corresponds a group of such congruent transformatio ...
are listed in the table below.
References
{{Crystal systems
Lattice points
Crystal systems