Atomic displacement parameter nomenclature report of a subcommittee on atomic displacement parameter nomenclature

Modern X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques can give precise parameters that describe dynamic or static displacements of atoms in crystals. However, confusing and inconsistent terms and symbols for these quantities occur in the crystallographic literature. this report discusses various forms of these quantities, derived from probability density functions and based on Bragg diffraction data, both when the Gaussian approximation is appropriate and when it is not. The focus is especially on individual atomic anisotropic displacement parameters (ADPs), which may represent atomic motion and possible static displacive disorder. The first of the four sections gives background information, including definitions. The second concerns the kinds of parameter describing atomic displacements that have most often been used in crystal structure analysis and hence are most commonly found in the literature on the subject. It includes a discussion of graphical representations of the Gaussian mean-square displacement matrix. The third section considers the expressions used when the Gaussian approximation is not adequate. The final section gives recommendations for symbols and nomenclature.