  The effects of periodic and aperiodic distortions on the structure factor and
radial distribution function of single-component lattices are investigated. To
this end, different kinds of distortions are applied to the otherwise perfect
square lattice and the corresponding radial distribution function and structure
factor for the resulting lattices are calculated. When the applied distortions
have a periodic character, they are very easily recognized in the calculated
structure factors as new superlattice peaks. However, when the periodicity of
the distortions is suppressed the signatures of disorder only show up as smooth
and subtle features on the diffuse part of the scattering, making it very
difficult to identify the nature of the distortions present in the lattice. The
implications of these results are discussed.
