Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Miller indices are used in crystallography to identify planes within crystal lattices. The question requires arranging the steps for determining these indices in the correct order.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Miller indices (hkl) are determined by the following procedure:
1. Find the intercepts: Identify where the plane intersects the x, y, and z crystallographic axes, expressed as multiples of the lattice parameters (\(p a\), \(q b\), \(r c\)). This is step D.
2. Take the reciprocal: Calculate the reciprocals of the numerical coefficients of the intercepts (\(1/p\), \(1/q\), \(1/r\)). If the plane is parallel to an axis, the intercept is considered to be at infinity (\(\infty\)), and its reciprocal is zero. This is step A.
3. Simplify the fraction (Clear fractions): Reduce the reciprocals to the smallest set of integers (h, k, l) by multiplying or dividing by a common factor. This corresponds to step B.
4. Enclose in parentheses: Write the simplified integers within parentheses (hkl) to represent the Miller index of the plane. No commas are used. This corresponds to step C.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct sequence of steps is D, A, B, then C.