Cyclic symmetry in three dimensions

In three dimensional geometry, there are four infinite series of point groups in three dimensions (n≥1) with n-fold rotational or reflectional symmetry about one axis (by an angle of 360°/n) that does not change the object.

Selected point groups in three dimensions

Involutional symmetry
Cs, (*)
[ ] =
Cyclic symmetry
Cnv, (*nn)
[n] =
Dihedral symmetry
Dnh, (*n22)
[n,2] =
Polyhedral group, [n,3], (*n32)

Tetrahedral symmetry
Td, (*332)
[3,3] =
Octahedral symmetry
Oh, (*432)
[4,3] =
Icosahedral symmetry
Ih, (*532)
[5,3] =

They are the finite symmetry groups on a cone. For n = ∞ they correspond to four frieze groups. Schönflies notation is used. The terms horizontal (h) and vertical (v) imply the existence and direction of reflections with respect to a vertical axis of symmetry. Also shown are Coxeter notation in brackets, and, in parentheses, orbifold notation.

Example symmetry subgroup tree for dihedral symmetry: D4h, [4,2], (*224)

Types
Chiral
  • Cn, [n]+, (nn) of order n - n-fold rotational symmetry - acro-n-gonal group (abstract group Zn); for n=1: no symmetry (trivial group)
Achiral
Piece of loose-fill cushioning with C2h symmetry
  • Cnh, [n+,2], (n*) of order 2n - prismatic symmetry or ortho-n-gonal group (abstract group Zn × Dih1); for n=1 this is denoted by Cs (1*) and called reflection symmetry, also bilateral symmetry. It has reflection symmetry with respect to a plane perpendicular to the n-fold rotation axis.
  • Cnv, [n], (*nn) of order 2n - pyramidal symmetry or full acro-n-gonal group (abstract group Dihn); in biology C2v is called biradial symmetry. For n=1 we have again Cs (1*). It has vertical mirror planes. This is the symmetry group for a regular n-sided pyramid.
  • S2n, [2+,2n+], (n×) of order 2n - gyro-n-gonal group (not to be confused with symmetric groups, for which the same notation is used; abstract group Z2n); It has a 2n-fold rotoreflection axis, also called 2n-fold improper rotation axis, i.e., the symmetry group contains a combination of a reflection in the horizontal plane and a rotation by an angle 180°/n. Thus, like Dnd, it contains a number of improper rotations without containing the corresponding rotations.

C2h, [2,2+] (2*) and C2v, [2], (*22) of order 4 are two of the three 3D symmetry group types with the Klein four-group as abstract group. C2v applies e.g. for a rectangular tile with its top side different from its bottom side.

Frieze groups

In the limit these four groups represent Euclidean plane frieze groups as C∞, C∞h, C∞v, and S∞. Rotations become translations in the limit. Portions of the infinite plane can also be cut and connected into an infinite cylinder.

Frieze groups
Notations Examples
IUC Orbifold Coxeter Schönflies* Euclidean plane Cylindrical (n=6)
p1∞∞[∞]+C∞
p1m1*∞∞[∞]C∞v
p11m∞*[∞+,2]C∞h
p11g∞×[∞+,2+]S∞

Examples
S2/Ci (1x): C4v (*44): C5v (*55):

Parallelepiped
Square pyramid
Elongated square pyramid
Pentagonal pyramid

See also

References
  • Sands, Donald E. (1993). "Crystal Systems and Geometry". Introduction to Crystallography. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc. p. 165. ISBN 0-486-67839-3.
  • On Quaternions and Octonions, 2003, John Horton Conway and Derek A. Smith ISBN 978-1-56881-134-5
  • The Symmetries of Things 2008, John H. Conway, Heidi Burgiel, Chaim Goodman-Strass, ISBN 978-1-56881-220-5
  • Kaleidoscopes: Selected Writings of H.S.M. Coxeter, edited by F. Arthur Sherk, Peter McMullen, Anthony C. Thompson, Asia Ivic Weiss, Wiley-Interscience Publication, 1995, ISBN 978-0-471-01003-6
  • N.W. Johnson: Geometries and Transformations, (2018) ISBN 978-1-107-10340-5 Chapter 11: Finite symmetry groups, 11.5 Spherical Coxeter groups
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