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.