Multilevel defect substructures and methods of their description

A general scheme is proposed which makes it possible to analyze and classify defects of any scale level. The efficiency of the scheme is demonstrated by applying it to the ordered states of various types of defects. Disorders in systems of defects are treated as second-order defects; some of second-order defects are identical to well-known defects (e.g., partial disclinations). The addition of new types of defects to the already known ones provides for a more accurate description of multilevel defect substructures.