Square-triangle tilings: an infinite playground for soft matter
Résumé
Regular square and triangle, two very simple geometrical figures, can be used to construct a fascinating
variety of tilings which cover the 2D plane without any overlaps or holes. Such tilings are observed in
many soft matter systems. Here we present a way to describe all possible globally uniform squaretriangle
phases using a three dimensional composition space. This approach takes into account both the
overall composition and the orientations of the two kinds of tiles. The geometrical properties of special
phases encountered in soft matter systems are described: the Archimedean $\Sigma$ and H phases, the striped
phases and the 12-fold maximally symmetric phases. We show how this very rich behavior with either
periodic or aperiodic phases appears here as a consequence of the inherent incommensurability
between the areas of the two tiles related by the ratio sqrt(3)/4. Geometrical constraints on boundary lines
and junction points between domains of different compositions are given, a situation likely to be
encountered in experimental and numerical studies. Future developments are suggested like considering
the effect on phase behavior of possible symmetry breaking.
Domaines
Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]Origine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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