Directional Scaling Symmetry of High-symmetry Two-dimensional Lattices

TL;DR

This paper discovers and proves a directional scaling symmetry in high-symmetry 2D lattices, revealing new geometric properties that could impact physical models and quasiperiodic lattice generation.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel proof of directional scaling symmetry in square, triangular, and honeycomb lattices using special functions related to quasiperiodic structures.

Findings

Directional scaling symmetry exists in high-symmetry 2D lattices.

The directions and scaling factors for symmetry are explicitly determined.

The approach can generate quasiperiodic lattices and may extend to complex geometries.

Abstract

Two-dimensional lattices provide the arena for many physics problems of essential importance, a non-trivial symmetry in such lattices will help to reveal the underlying physics. Whether there is a directional scaling for the 2D lattices is a longstanding puzzle. Here we report the discovery and proof of directional scaling symmetry for high symmetry 2D lattices, i.e., the square lattice, the equilateral triangular lattice and thus the honeycomb lattice, with the aid of the function , where x is either the platinum number or the silver number , which are related to the 12-fold and 8-fold quasiperiodic structures, respectively. The directions and the corresponding scaling factors for the symmetric scaling transformation are determined. The revealed scaling symmetry may have a bearing on the various physical problems modeled on 2D lattices, and the function adopted here can be used to generate quasiperiodic lattices with enumeration of lattice points. Our result is expected to initiate the search of directional scaling symmetry in more complicated geometries.