Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-a-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/paper-2/a9/b/iii/solution

With the chosen basis, let . The reciprocal lattice conditions give
so . Similarly, and give
All reciprocal points are
Thus, in coordinates measured in , the two integer coordinates have the same parity. The reciprocal lattice is another rotated square Bravais lattice, with nearest-neighbor spacing .
Figure 1.
Reciprocal lattice, first zone and the inscribed Fermi circle
. Original construction in coordinates and . The reciprocal points have integer coordinates of the same parity. The shaded diamond is the origin-centered Wigner-Seitz cell; the circle has radius in these units and touches its four sides. Details.

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