SURFACE EXPLORER
HELP on form input
Version 2 based on BALSAC, (C) K. Hermann (FHI)
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The SURFACE EXPLORER allows you to visualize (hkl) indexed surfaces
of commonly known single crystals using various options. The screen
image can also be downloaded as a color PostScript file to be used for
publication quality print output. Input is accepted by either filling
in the form (upper part of the input page) or by providing explicit BALSAC
file format input inside the file area (lower part of the input page,
only for the experienced user).
THE INPUT FORM ALLOWS YOU TO SELECT THE
- LATTICE TYPE from simple cubic (sc), face centered cubic (fcc),
body centered cubic (bcc), hexagonal closed packed (hcp), diamond,
sodium chloride (NaCl), cesium chloride (CsCl), cubic zincblende (ZnS),
and graphite.
==> Choose from menu. Default is set to "face centered cubic (fcc)".
- MILLER INDICES (hkl) defining the surface orientation.
For cubic lattices indices are based on the simple cubic notation.
For hexagonal lattices only 3-index notations are provided.
==> Fill numbers in appropriate boxes. Default values are (0 0 1).
- SIZE of the crystal/surface box to be displayed. The box is built
as a stack of net plane sections, each N1 by N2 atoms large, where
N3 planes are included. Note that large Miller index values (hkl) may
need large N3 values. Parameter Ninit sets the termination plane for
non-primitive lattices.
==> Fill numbers in appropriate boxes. Default values are 5, 5, 4, 1.
- VIEW DIRECTION. This is defined with respect the surface normal
vector by a polar angle Theta (0 <= Theta <= 180) and an azimuthal
angle Phi (0 <= Phi <= 360). Note that images with off-normal view
may give a distorted perspective impression if viewed in parallel
projection.
==> Fill numbers in appropriate boxes. Default values are 50.0, 10.0.
- MAGNIFICATION. This defines the plot size by a linear factor
where Magnf = 1.0 denotes the standard size almost filling the whole
picture area.
==> Fill numbers in appropriate box. Default value is 1.2 (slight
magnification)
- PROJECTION. You can choose between perspective and parallel
projection.
==> Choose from menu. Default is set to perspective projection
(giving a 3-dimensional impression.)
- DESIGN of surface atoms from "Filled circles", "Shaded balls",
and "Glossy balls".
==> Choose from menu. Default is set to "Glossy balls".
- COLOR sequence of surface atoms from a color menu. Atoms of
different kind (nuclear charge) will be painted with different colors
according to the palette shown with the menu where the selected color
is used for the first element.
==> Choose from menu. Default is set to "blue".
- SCREEN IMAGE. Decide whether you want a screen image of the
surface section to be displayed on the second page or not.
Downloading the screen image (GIF format with up to 30k) may take a
while and can be suppressed with this option.
==> Choose from menu. Default is set to "Show image".
Click "VISUALIZE FORM" BUTTON to start the visualization of the
present input data:
- generate PostScript picture file of the surface
(may be downloaded)
- display screen image (GIF format) of the surface (optional)
Click "RESET FORM" BUTTON to reset all values of the input form
to their defaults given above.
Click "HELP" to show the present help page.
The line "Input File (Balsac Format):" at the lower part of the input
page starts the file input section. This allows explicit BALSAC file
format input inside the file area by either keyboard or cut/paste
input. This assumes familiarity with the BALSAC file format and is meant
only for the experienced user. Further help on this type of input is
given by clicking the HELP button at the very bottom of the input page.
The authors of SURFACE EXPLORER can be reached by e-mail clicking
"Klaus Hermann (scientific)" if you have scientific questions and
"Fritz Rammer (technical)" if you need technical assistance.
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