Socolar–Taylor tile

The Socolar–Taylor tile is a single tile which is aperiodic on the Euclidean plane, meaning that it admits only non-periodic tilings of the plane, with rotations and reflections of the tile allowed.^[1] It is the first known example of a single aperiodic tile, or "einstein".^[2] The basic version of the tile is a simple hexagon, with printed designs to enforce a local matching rule, regarding how the tiles may be placed.^[3] This rule cannot be geometrically implemented in two dimensions while keeping the tile a connected set.^[2][3]

This is, however, possible in three dimensions, and in their original paper Socolar and Taylor suggest a three-dimensional analogue to the monotile.^[1] Taylor and Socolar remark that the 3D monotile aperiodically tiles three-dimensional space. However the tile does allow tilings with a period, shifting one (non-periodic) two dimensional layer to the next, and so the tile is only ″weakly aperiodic″. Physical copies of the three-dimensional tile could not be fitted together without allowing reflections, which would require access to four-dimensional space.^{[4] [2]}

Gallery

The monotile implemented geometrically. Black lines are included to show how the structure is enforced.  A three-dimensional analogue of the Socolar-Taylor tile, without decoration (all matching rules implemented geometrically).

A three-dimensional analogue of the monotile, with matching rules implemented geometrically. Red lines are included only to illuminate the structure of the tiling. Note that this shape remains a connected set.  A partial tiling of three-dimensional space with the 3D monotile.  A tiling of 3D space with one tile removed to demonstrate the structure.

References

External links

• Previewable digital models of the three-dimensional tile, suitable for 3D printing, at Thingiverse
• Original diagrams and further information on Joan Taylor's personal website

Tessellation
Periodic Pythagorean Rhombille Schwarz triangle Rectangle Domino Uniform tiling & honeycomb Coloring Convex Kisrhombille Wallpaper group Wythoff
Aperiodic Ammann–Beenker Aperiodic set of prototiles List Einstein problem Socolar–Taylor Gilbert Penrose Pentagonal Pinwheel Quaquaversal Rep-tile & Self-tiling Sphinx Truchet
Other Anisohedral & Isohedral Architectonic & catoptric Circle Limit III Computer graphics Honeycomb Isotoxal Packing Problems Domino Wang Heesch's Squaring Prototile Conway criterion Girih Regular Division of the Plane Regular grid Substitution Voronoi Voderberg
By vertex type Spherical 2n 33.n V33.n 42.n V42.n Regular 2∞ 36 44 63 Semi- regular 32.4.3.4 V32.4.3.4 33.42 33.∞ 34.6 V34.6 3.4.6.4 (3.6)2 3.122 42.∞ 4.6.12 4.82 Hyper- bolic 32.4.3.5 32.4.3.6 32.4.3.7 32.4.3.8 32.4.3.∞ 32.5.3.5 32.5.3.6 32.6.3.6 32.6.3.8 32.7.3.7 32.8.3.8 33.4.3.4 32.∞.3.∞ 34.7 34.8 34.∞ 35.4 37 38 3∞ (3.4)3 (3.4)4 3.4.62.4 3.4.7.4 3.4.8.4 3.4.∞.4 3.6.4.6 (3.7)2 (3.8)2 3.142 3.162 (3.∞)2 3.∞2 42.5.4 42.6.4 42.7.4 42.8.4 42.∞.4 45 46 47 48 4∞ (4.5)2 (4.6)2 4.6.12 4.6.14 V4.6.14 4.6.16 V4.6.16 4.6.∞ (4.7)2 (4.8)2 4.8.10 V4.8.10 4.8.12 4.8.14 4.8.16 4.8.∞ 4.102 4.10.12 4.122 4.12.16 4.142 4.162 4.∞2 (4.∞)2 54 55 56 5∞ 5.4.6.4 (5.6)2 5.82 5.102 5.122 (5.∞)2 64 65 66 68 6.4.8.4 (6.8)2 6.82 6.102 6.122 6.162 73 74 77 7.62 7.82 7.142 83 84 86 88 812 8.62 8.162 ∞3 ∞4 ∞5 ∞∞ ∞.62 ∞.82