def bs_plot_data(self):

        """
        Get the data nicely formatted for a plot

        Returns:
            A dict of the following format:
            ticks: A dict with the 'distances' at which there is a qpoint (the
            x axis) and the labels (None if no label)
            frequencies: A list (one element for each branch) of frequencies for
            each qpoint: [branch][qpoint][mode]. The data is
            stored by branch to facilitate the plotting
            lattice: The reciprocal lattice.
        """
        distance = []
        frequency = []

        ticks = self.get_ticks()

        for b in self._bs.branches:

            frequency.append([])
            distance.append([self._bs.distance[j]
                             for j in range(b['start_index'],
                                            b['end_index'] + 1)])

            for i in range(self._nb_bands):
                frequency[-1].append(
                    [self._bs.bands[i][j]
                     for j in range(b['start_index'], b['end_index'] + 1)])

        return {'ticks': ticks, 'distances': distance, 'frequency': frequency,
                'lattice': self._bs.lattice_rec.as_dict()}