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Point space

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    A mathematical model of the space in which we live is the point space. Its elements are points. Objects in point space may be single points; finite sets of points like the centers of the atoms of a molecule; infinite discontinuous point sets like the centers of the atoms of an ideal crystal pattern; continuous point sets like straight lines, curves, planes, curved surfaces, etc.

    Objects in point space are described by means of a coordinate system referred to point chosen as the origin O. An arbitrary point P is then described by its coordinates x, y, z.

    The point space used in crystallography is a Euclidean space, i.e. an affine space where the scalar product is defined.

    Crystal structures are described in point space. The vector space is a dual of the point space because to each pair of points in point space a vector in vector space can be associated.

    Point space is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Online Dictionary of Crystallography.

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