In solid-state physics crystal momentum or quasimomentum is a momentum-like vector associated with electrons in a crystal lattice. It is defined by the associated wave vectors of this lattice, according to
(where is the reduced Planck's constant). Like mechanical momentum, crystal momentum is frequently conserved, making it useful to physicists and materials scientists as an analytical tool.
Read more about Crystal Momentum: Lattice Symmetry Origins, Physical Significance
Famous quotes containing the word crystal:
“The Thirties dreamed white marble and slipstream chrome, immortal crystal and burnished bronze, but the rockets on the Gernsback pulps had fallen on London in the dead of night, screaming. After the war, everyone had a car—no wings for it—and the promised superhighway to drive it down, so that the sky itself darkened, and the fumes ate the marble and pitted the miracle crystal.”
—William Gibson (b. 1948)