The classification of bipatterns in the plane (Q1184581)

Before dealing with bipatterns the author discusses the basic ideas of planar patterns, having as symmetry either one of the 17 wallpaper groups (i.e. the 2-dimensional space groups) or one of the 7 frieze groups or a finite planar group. The symmetry group \(G\) of a given pattern (consisting of a set of congruent motifs) acts transitively on the basic motif \(M\), which has a subgroup \(G_ 1\) of \(G\) as symmetry. A first equivalence relation among patterns called henomeric is based on affine conjugation with respect to \(G\) and to \(G_ 1\), at the same time. A stronger equivalence relation called homeomerism is also considered requiring in addition to henomerism a homeomorphism between two patterns. On this conceptual basis the bipatterns are introduced as consisting of two sets of congruent motifs implying two transitivity classes under the action of the symmetry group of the bipattern. The equivalence relations given above are generalized to the new situation and the non-equivalent bipatterns in the plane are classified and listed accordingly. Examples of inequivalent bipatterns are also given.