In
geometry, Coxeter notation (also Coxeter symbol) is a system of classifying
symmetry group
In group theory, the symmetry group of a geometric object is the group of all transformations under which the object is invariant, endowed with the group operation of composition. Such a transformation is an invertible mapping of the ambient ...
s, describing the angles between fundamental reflections of a
Coxeter group in a bracketed notation expressing the structure of a
Coxeter-Dynkin diagram, with modifiers to indicate certain subgroups. The notation is named after
H. S. M. Coxeter
Harold Scott MacDonald "Donald" Coxeter, (9 February 1907 – 31 March 2003) was a British and later also Canadian geometer. He is regarded as one of the greatest geometers of the 20th century.
Biography
Coxeter was born in Kensington t ...
, and has been more comprehensively defined by
Norman Johnson.
Reflectional groups
For
Coxeter groups, defined by pure reflections, there is a direct correspondence between the bracket notation and
Coxeter-Dynkin diagram. The numbers in the bracket notation represent the mirror reflection orders in the branches of the Coxeter diagram. It uses the same simplification, suppressing 2s between orthogonal mirrors.
The Coxeter notation is simplified with exponents to represent the number of branches in a row for linear diagram. So the ''A''
''n'' group is represented by
''n''−1">''n''−1 to imply ''n'' nodes connected by ''n−1'' order-3 branches. Example ''A''
2 =
,3=
2">2or
1,1">1,1represents diagrams or .
Coxeter initially represented bifurcating diagrams with vertical positioning of numbers, but later abbreviated with an exponent notation, like
p,q">..,3p,qor
p,q,r">p,q,r starting with
1,1,1">1,1,1or
1,1">,31,1= or as D
4. Coxeter allowed for zeros as special cases to fit the ''A''
''n'' family, like ''A''
3 =
,3,3,3=
4,0,0">4,0,0=
4,0">4,0=
3,1">3,1=
2,2">2,2 like = = .
Coxeter groups formed by cyclic diagrams are represented by parentheseses inside of brackets, like
p,q,r)= for the
triangle group (p q r). If the branch orders are equal, they can be grouped as an exponent as the length the cycle in brackets, like
3,3,3,3)=
[4">[4/sup>">.html" ;"title="
[4">[4/sup> representing Coxeter diagram or . can be represented as [3,(3,3,3)] or [3,3 /sup>].
More complicated looping diagrams can also be expressed with care. The Coxeter–Dynkin diagram#Ranks 4.E2.80.9310, paracompact Coxeter group can be represented by Coxeter notation 3,3,(3),3,3) with nested/overlapping parentheses showing two adjacent 3,3,3)loops, and is also represented more compactly as [ �[ ">amp;nbsp;.html" ;"title=" [ �[ /sup>">nbsp;">[ �[ ">amp;nbsp;.html" ;"title="[ ">[ �[ /sup> representing the rhombic symmetry of the Coxeter diagram. The paracompact complete graph diagram or , is represented as [3,3">rhombus">rhombic symmetry of the Coxeter diagram. The paracompact complete graph diagram or , is represented as [3[3,3/sup>">[3,3">rhombus">rhombic symmetry of the Coxeter diagram. The paracompact complete graph diagram or , is represented as [3[3,3/sup>with the superscript ,3as the symmetry of its regular tetrahedron coxeter diagram.
The Coxeter diagram usually leaves order-2 branches undrawn, but the bracket notation includes an explicit 2 to connect the subgraphs. So the Coxeter diagram = ''A''2×''A''2 = 2''A''2 can be represented by � = sup>2 = ,2,3 Sometimes explicit 2-branches may be included either with a 2 label, or with a line with a gap: or , as an identical presentation as ,2,3
For the affine and hyperbolic groups, the subscript is one less than the number of nodes in each case, since each of these groups was obtained by adding a node to a finite group's diagram.
Subgroups
Coxeter's notation represents rotational/translational symmetry by adding a + superscript operator outside the brackets, sup>+ which cuts the order of the group in half, thus an index 2 subgroup. This operator implies an even number of operators must be applied, replacing reflections with rotations (or translations). When applied to a Coxeter group, this is called a direct subgroup because what remains are only direct isometries without reflective symmetry.
The + operators can also be applied inside of the brackets, like +">,Y+or +">,(Y,Z)+ and creates "semidirect" subgroups that may include both reflective and nonreflective generators. Semidirect subgroups can only apply to Coxeter group subgroups that have even order branches adjacent to it. Elements by parentheses inside of a Coxeter group can be give a + superscript operator, having the effect of dividing adjacent ordered branches into half order, thus is usually only applied with even numbers. For example, +">,3+and +">,(3,3)+().
If applied with adjacent odd branch, it doesn't create a subgroup of index 2, but instead creates overlapping fundamental domains, like +">,1+= /2 which can define doubly wrapped polygons like a pentagram, , and +">,3+relates to Schwarz triangle
In geometry, a Schwarz triangle, named after Hermann Schwarz, is a spherical triangle that can be used to tile a sphere ( spherical tiling), possibly overlapping, through reflections in its edges. They were classified in .
These can be defin ...
/2,3 density 2.
Groups without neighboring + elements can be seen in ringed nodes Coxeter-Dynkin diagram for uniform polytopes and honeycomb are related to ''hole'' nodes around the + elements, empty circles with the alternated nodes removed. So the snub cube, has symmetry ,3sup>+ (), and the snub tetrahedron, has symmetry +">,3
+(), and a
demicube, h = ( or = ) has symmetry
+,4,3">+,4,3=
,3( or = = ).
Note:
Pyritohedral symmetry can be written as , separating the graph with gaps for clarity, with the generators from the Coxeter group , producing pyritohedral generators , a reflection and 3-fold rotation. And chiral tetrahedral symmetry can be written as or ,
+,4,3+">+,4,3+=
,3sup>+, with generators .
Halving subgroups and extended groups
Johnson extends the
+ operator to work with a placeholder 1
+ nodes, which removes mirrors, doubling the size of the fundamental domain and cuts the group order in half.
[Johnson (2018), 11.6 ''Subgroups and extensions'', p 255, halving subgroups] In general this operation only applies to individual mirrors bounded by even-order branches. The 1 represents a mirror so
pcan be seen as
1">p,1 1,2p">span style="color:red;">1,2p or
1,2p,1">span style="color:red;">1,2p,1 like diagram or , with 2 mirrors related by an order-2p dihedral angle. The effect of a mirror removal is to duplicate connecting nodes, which can be seen in the Coxeter diagrams: = , or in bracket notation:
+,2p, 1">+,2p, 1=
1,p,1">span style="color:#00ff00;">1,p,1=
Each of these mirrors can be removed so h
p=
+,2p,1">+,2p,1=
+">,2p,1+=
a reflective subgroup index 2. This can be shown in a Coxeter diagram by adding a
+ symbol above the node: = = .
If both mirrors are removed, a quarter subgroup is generated, with the branch order becoming a gyration point of half the order:
:q
p=
+,2p,1+">+,2p,1+=
sup>+, a rotational subgroup of index 4. = = = = .
For example, (with p=2):
+">,1+=
+,4">+,4=
=
nbsp;�
nbsp; order 4.
+,4,1+">+,4,1+=
sup>+, order 2.
The opposite to halving is doubling
which adds a mirror, bisecting a fundamental domain, and doubling the group order.
: =
p
Halving operations apply for higher rank groups, like
tetrahedral symmetry is a half group of
octahedral group: h
,3=
+,4,3">+,4,3=
,3 removing half the mirrors at the 4-branch. The effect of a mirror removal is to duplicate all connecting nodes, which can be seen in the Coxeter diagrams: = , h
p,3=
+,2p,3">+,2p,3=
p,3,3)
If nodes are indexed, half subgroups can be labeled with new mirrors as composites. Like , generators has subgroup = , generators , where mirror 0 is removed, and replaced by a copy of mirror 1 reflected across mirror 0. Also given , generators , it has half group = , generators .
Doubling by adding a mirror also applies in reversing the halving operation: =
,3 or more generally =
p,q
Radical subgroups

Johnson also added an
asterisk
The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , ''asteriskos'', "little star", is a typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a heraldic star.
Computer scientists and mathematicians often voc ...
or star * operator for "radical" subgroups, that acts similar to the
+ operator, but removes rotational symmetry. The index of the radical subgroup is the order of the removed element. For example,
,3*≅
,2 The removed
subgroup is order 6 so
,2is an index 6 subgroup of
,3
The radical subgroups represent the inverse operation to an
extended symmetry operation. For example,
,3*≅
,2 and in reverse
,2can be extended as
[2,2 ≅
,3 The subgroups can be expressed as a Coxeter diagram: or ≅ . The removed node (mirror) causes adjacent mirror virtual mirrors to become real mirrors.
If
,3has generators ,
+">,3+ index 2, has generators ;
+,4,3">+,4,3≅
,3 index 2 has generators ; while radical subgroup
,3*≅
,2 index 6, has generators ; and finally
+,4,3*">+,4,3* index 12 has generators .
Trionic subgroups

A trionic subgroup is an index 3 subgroup. Johnson defines a ''trionic subgroup'' with operator ⅄, index 3. For rank 2 Coxeter groups,
the trionic subgroup,
⅄">⅄is
a single mirror. And for
''p'' the trionic subgroup is
''p''sup>⅄ ≅
'p'' Given , with generators , has 3 trionic subgroups. They can be differentiated by putting the ⅄ symbol next to the mirror generator to be removed, or on a branch for both:
⅄">''p'',1⅄= = , = , and
⅄">''p''⅄= = with generators , , or .
Trionic subgroups of tetrahedral symmetry:
,3sup>⅄ ≅
+,4">+,4 relating the symmetry of the
regular tetrahedron and
tetragonal disphenoid.
For rank 3 Coxeter groups,
'p'',3 there is a trionic subgroup
⅄">'p'',3⅄≅
'p''/2,''p'' or = . For example, the finite group
⅄">,3⅄≅
,4 and Euclidean group
⅄">,3⅄≅
,6 and hyperbolic group
⅄">,3⅄≅
,8
An odd-order adjacent branch, ''p'', will not lower the group order, but create overlapping fundamental domains. The group order stays the same, while the
density increases. For example, the
icosahedral symmetry,
,3 of the regular polyhedra
icosahedron
In geometry, an icosahedron ( or ) is a polyhedron with 20 faces. The name comes and . The plural can be either "icosahedra" () or "icosahedrons".
There are infinitely many non- similar shapes of icosahedra, some of them being more symmetrica ...
becomes
/2,5 the symmetry of 2 regular star polyhedra. It also relates the hyperbolic tilings , and
star hyperbolic tilings
For rank 4,
⅄">'q'',2''p'',3⅄=
''p'',((p,q,q)) = .
For example,
⅄">,4,3⅄=
,3,3 or = , generators in
,4,3with the trionic subgroup
,3,3generators . For hyperbolic groups,
⅄">,6,3⅄=
/sup>">,3
/sup> and ⅄">,4,3
⅄=
,4,4
Trionic subgroups of tetrahedral symmetry

]
Johnson identified two specific trionic subgroups of
,3 first an index 3 subgroup
,3sup>⅄ ≅
+,4">+,4 with
,3( = = ) generators . It can also be written as
⅄)">3,3,2⅄)() as a reminder of its generators . This symmetry reduction is the relationship between the regular
tetrahedron and the
tetragonal disphenoid, represent a stretching of a tetrahedron perpendicular to two opposite edges.
Secondly he identifies a related index 6 subgroup
,3sup>Δ or
⅄)">3,3,2⅄)sup>+ (), index 3 from
,3sup>+ ≅
,2sup>+, with generators , from
,3and its generators .
These subgroups also apply within larger Coxeter groups with
,3subgroup with neighboring branches all even order.

]
For example,
+,4">3,3)+,4 ⅄,4">3,3)⅄,4 and
Δ,4">3,3)Δ,4are subgroups of
,3,4 index 2, 3 and 6 respectively. The generators of
⅄,4">3,3)⅄,4≅ ≅
+,8">,2+,8 order 128, are from
,3,4generators . And
Δ,4">3,3)Δ,4≅ , order 64, has generators . As well,
⅄,4,3⅄">⅄,4,3⅄≅
⅄,4">3,3)⅄,4
Also related
1,1,1">1,1,1=
+">,3,4,1+has trionic subgroups:
1,1,1">1,1,1sup>⅄ =
⅄,4,1+">3,3)⅄,4,1+ order 64, and 1=
1,1,1">1,1,1sup>Δ =
Δ,4,1+">3,3)Δ,4,1+≅
+,4">4,2+,4+, order 32.
Central inversion

A
central inversion, order 2, is operationally differently by dimension. The group
nbsp;sup>''n'' =
''n''−1">''n''−1represents ''n'' orthogonal mirrors in n-dimensional space, or an
n-flat subspace of a higher dimensional space. The mirrors of the group
''n''−1">''n''−1are numbered . The order of the mirrors doesn't matter in the case of an inversion. The matrix of a central inversion is , the Identity matrix with negative one on the diagonal.
From that basis, the central inversion has a generator as the product of all the orthogonal mirrors. In Coxeter notation this inversion group is expressed by adding an alternation
+ to each 2 branch. The alternation symmetry is marked on Coxeter diagram nodes as open nodes.
A
Coxeter-Dynkin diagram can be marked up with explicit 2 branches defining a linear sequence of mirrors, open-nodes, and shared double-open nodes to show the chaining of the reflection generators.
For example,
+,2">+,2and
+">,2+are subgroups index 2 of
,2 , and are represented as (or ) and (or ) with generators and respectively. Their common subgroup index 4 is
+,2+">+,2+ and is represented by (or ), with the double-open marking a shared node in the two alternations, and a single
rotoreflection generator .
Rotations and rotary reflections
Rotations and
rotary reflection
In geometry, an improper rotation,. also called rotation-reflection, rotoreflection, rotary reflection,. or rotoinversion is an isometry in Euclidean space that is a combination of a rotation about an axis and a reflection in a plane perpendicul ...
s are constructed by a single single-generator product of all the reflections of a prismatic group,
''p''�
''q''�... where
gcd(''p'',''q'',...)=1, they are isomorphic to the abstract
cyclic group Z
n, of order ''n''=2''pq''.
The 4-dimensional double rotations,
+,2+,2''q''+">''p''+,2+,2''q''+(with
gcd(''p'',''q'')=1), which include a central group, and are expressed by Conway as ±
''p''×C''q''">''p''×C''q'' order 2''pq''. From Coxeter diagram , generators , requires two generator for
+,2+,2''q''+">''p''+,2+,2''q''+ as . Half groups,
+,2+,2''q''+">''p''+,2+,2''q''+sup>+, or cyclic graph,
+,2+,2''q''+,2+)">2''p''+,2+,2''q''+,2+) expressed by Conway is
''p''×C''q''">''p''×C''q'' order ''pq'', with one generator, like .
If there is a common factor ''f'', the double rotation can be written as
+,2+,2''qf''+">''pf''+,2+,2''qf''+(with
gcd(''p'',''q'')=1), generators , order 2''pqf''. For example, ''p''=''q''=1, ''f''=2,
+,2+,4+">+,2+,4+is order 4. And
+,2+,2''qf''+">''pf''+,2+,2''qf''+sup>+, generator , is order ''pqf''. For example,
+,2+,4+">+,2+,4+sup>+ is order 2, a
central inversion.
In general a ''n''-rotation group,
1+,2,2''p''2+,2,...,''p''''n''+">''p''1+,2,2''p''2+,2,...,''p''''n''+may require up to ''n'' generators if gcd(''p''
1,..,''p''
''n'')>1, as a product of all mirrors, and then swapping sequential pairs. The half group,
1+,2,2''p''2+,2,...,''p''''n''+">''p''1+,2,2''p''2+,2,...,''p''''n''+sup>+ has generators squared. ''n''-rotary reflections are similar.
Commutator subgroups

Simple groups with only odd-order branch elements have only a single rotational/translational subgroup of order 2, which is also the
commutator subgroup, examples
,3sup>+,
,5sup>+,
,3,3sup>+,
,3,5sup>+. For other Coxeter groups with even-order branches, the commutator subgroup has index 2
''c'', where c is the number of disconnected subgraphs when all the even-order branches are removed.
For example,
,4has three independent nodes in the Coxeter diagram when the 4s are removed, so its commutator subgroup is index 2
3, and can have different representations, all with three
+ operators:
+,4+">+,4+sup>+,
+,4,1+,4,1+">+,4,1+,4,1+ +,4,4,1+">+,4,4,1+sup>+, or
+,4+,2+)">4+,4+,2+) A general notation can be used with +''c'' as a group exponent, like
,4sup>+3.
Example subgroups
Rank 2 example subgroups
Dihedral symmetry groups with even-orders have a number of subgroups. This example shows two generator mirrors of
in red and green, and looks at all subgroups by halfing, rank-reduction, and their direct subgroups. The group
has two mirror generators 0, and 1. Each generate two virtual mirrors 101 and 010 by reflection across the other.
Rank 3 Euclidean example subgroups
The
,4group has 15 small index subgroups. This table shows them all, with a yellow fundamental domain for pure reflective groups, and alternating white and blue domains which are paired up to make rotational domains. Cyan, red, and green mirror lines correspond to the same colored nodes in the Coxeter diagram. Subgroup generators can be expressed as products of the original 3 mirrors of the fundamental domain, , corresponding to the 3 nodes of the Coxeter diagram, . A product of two intersecting reflection lines makes a rotation, like , , or . Removing a mirror causes two copies of neighboring mirrors, across the removed mirror, like , and . Two rotations in series cut the rotation order in half, like or , or . A product of all three mirrors creates a
transreflection
In 2-dimensional geometry, a glide reflection (or transflection) is a symmetry operation that consists of a reflection over a line and then translation along that line, combined into a single operation. The intermediate step between reflectio ...
, like or .
Hyperbolic example subgroups
The same set of 15 small subgroups exists on all triangle groups with even order elements, like
,4in the hyperbolic plane:
Extended symmetry
Coxeter's notation includes double square bracket notation, to express
automorphic symmetry within a Coxeter diagram. Johnson added alternative doubling by angled-bracket <
. Johnson also added a prefix symmetry modifier
[X, where Y can either represent symmetry of the Coxeter diagram of [X">[X.html" ;"title="[X">[X, where Y can either represent symmetry of the Coxeter diagram of [X or symmetry of the fundamental domain of [X].
For example, in 3D these equivalent rectangle and Rhombus, rhombic geometry diagrams of
: and , the first doubled with square brackets, or twice doubled as [2
[4">[4/sup>">.html" ;"title="
[4">[4/sup>, with [2">"><sup>[4<_a>_sup>.html" ;"title=".html" ;"title="[4">[4/sup>">.html" ;"title="[4">[4/sup>, with [2 order 4 higher symmetry. To differentiate the second, angled brackets are used for doubling, < [4">[4/sup>]> and twice doubled as <2 [4">[4/sup>]>, also with a different order 4 symmetry. Finally a full symmetry where all 4 nodes are equivalent can be represented by [4">[4/sup>">.html" ;"title="[4">[4/sup>, with the order 8, symmetry of the Square (geometry)">square. But by considering the tetragonal disphenoid fundamental domain the extended symmetry of the square graph can be marked more explicitly as [(2+,4) [4">[4/sup>">.html" ;"title="[4">[4/sup> or [2+,4 [4">[4/sup>">.html" ;"title="[4">[4/sup>.
Further symmetry exists in the cyclic and branching , , and diagrams. has order 2''n'' symmetry of a regular ''n''-gon, , and is represented by [''n''[3[''n'']. and are represented by [3[31,1,1 = ,4,3and [3[32,2,2 respectively while by 1,1,1,1">3,3)[31,1,1,1 = [3,3,4,3"><sup>1,1,1,1<_sup>.html" ;"title="3,3)[31,1,1,1">3,3)[31,1,1,1 = [3,3,4,3 with the diagram containing the order 24 symmetry of the regular tetrahedron, . The paracompact hyperbolic group = [31,1,1,1,1], , contains the symmetry of a 5-cell, , and thus is represented by [(3,3,3)[31,1,1,1,1 = [3,4,3,3,3].
An asterisk
The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , ''asteriskos'', "little star", is a typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a heraldic star.
Computer scientists and mathematicians often voc ...
* superscript is effectively an inverse operation, creating ''radical subgroups'' removing connected of odd-ordered mirrors.
Examples:
Looking at generators, the double symmetry is seen as adding a new operator that maps symmetric positions in the Coxeter diagram, making some original generators redundant. For 3D space groups, and 4D point groups, Coxeter defines an index two subgroup of , , which he defines as the product of the original generators of by the doubling generator. This looks similar to +, which is the chiral subgroup of . So for example the 3D space groups + (I432, 211) and (Pmn,
223) are distinct subgroups of (Imm, 229).
Rank one groups
In one dimension, the ''bilateral group'' nbsp;represents a single mirror symmetry, abstract ''Dih''1 or ''Z''2, symmetry order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
2. It is represented as a Coxeter–Dynkin diagram
In geometry, a Coxeter–Dynkin diagram (or Coxeter diagram, Coxeter graph) is a graph with numerically labeled edges (called branches) representing the spatial relations between a collection of mirrors (or reflecting hyperplanes). It describe ...
with a single node, . The '' identity group'' is the direct subgroup nbsp;sup>+, Z1, symmetry order 1. The + superscript simply implies that alternate mirror reflections are ignored, leaving the identity group in this simplest case. Coxeter used a single open node to represent an alternation, .
Rank two groups
In two dimensions, the '' rectangular group'' abstract D22 or D4, also can be represented as a direct product
In mathematics, one can often define a direct product of objects already known, giving a new one. This generalizes the Cartesian product of the underlying sets, together with a suitably defined structure on the product set. More abstractly, one ta ...
� being the product of two bilateral groups, represents two orthogonal mirrors, with Coxeter diagram, , with order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
4. The 2 in comes from linearization of the orthogonal subgraphs in the Coxeter diagram, as with explicit branch order 2. The ''rhombic group'', sup>+ ( or ), half of the rectangular group, the point reflection symmetry, Z2, order 2.
Coxeter notation to allow a 1 place-holder for lower rank groups, so is the same as and +">+or sup>+ is the same as sup>+ and Coxeter diagram .
The ''full p-gonal group'' abstract '' dihedral group'' D2''p'', ( nonabelian for p>2), of order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
2''p'', is generated by two mirrors at angle ''π''/''p'', represented by Coxeter diagram . The ''p-gonal'' subgroup sup>+, '' cyclic group'' ''Z''''p'', of order ''p'', generated by a rotation angle of ''π''/''p''.
Coxeter notation uses double-bracking to represent an automorphic ''doubling'' of symmetry by adding a bisecting mirror to the fundamental domain
Given a topological space and a group acting on it, the images of a single point under the group action form an orbit of the action. A fundamental domain or fundamental region is a subset of the space which contains exactly one point from each o ...
. For example, p adds a bisecting mirror to and is isomorphic to p
In the limit, going down to one dimensions, the ''full apeirogonal group'' is obtained when the angle goes to zero, so �� abstractly the infinite dihedral group D∞, represents two parallel mirrors and has a Coxeter diagram . The '' apeirogonal group'' ��sup>+, , abstractly the infinite cyclic group Z∞, isomorphic
In mathematics, an isomorphism is a structure-preserving mapping between two structures of the same type that can be reversed by an inverse mapping. Two mathematical structures are isomorphic if an isomorphism exists between them. The word is ...
to the ''additive group'' of the integers, is generated by a single nonzero translation.
In the hyperbolic plane, there is a ''full pseudogon
In geometry, an apeirogon () or infinite polygon is a generalized polygon with a countably infinite number of sides. Apeirogons are the two-dimensional case of infinite polytopes.
In some literature, the term "apeirogon" may refer only to the ...
al group'' 'iπ/λ'' and ''pseudogonal subgroup'' 'iπ/λ''sup>+, . These groups exist in regular infinite-sided polygons, with edge length λ. The mirrors are all orthogonal to a single line.
Rank three groups
Point groups in 3 dimensions can be expressed in bracket notation related to the rank 3 Coxeter groups:
In three dimensions, the ''full orthorhombic group'' or ''orthorectangular'' ,2 abstractly Z23, order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
8, represents three orthogonal mirrors, (also represented by Coxeter diagram as three separate dots ). It can also can be represented as a direct product
In mathematics, one can often define a direct product of objects already known, giving a new one. This generalizes the Cartesian product of the underlying sets, together with a suitably defined structure on the product set. More abstractly, one ta ...
� � but the ,2expression allows subgroups to be defined:
First there is a "semidirect" subgroup, the ''orthorhombic group'', +">,2+( or ), abstractly Z2×''Z''2, of order 4. When the + superscript is given inside of the brackets, it means reflections generated only from the adjacent mirrors (as defined by the Coxeter diagram, ) are alternated. In general, the branch orders neighboring the + node must be even. In this case +">,2+and +,2">
+,2represent two isomorphic subgroups that are geometrically distinct. The other subgroups are the ''pararhombic group''
,2sup>+ ( or ), also order 4, and finally the ''
central group
Central Group consists of a variety of diverse investments in various corporations in Thailand and abroad, including investments in retail, property development, brand management, hospitality, and food and beverage sectors, and in digital lifes ...
''
+,2+">+,2+( or ) of order 2.
Next there is the ''full ortho-''p''-gonal group'',
,p(), abstractly Z
2×D
2''p'', of order 4p, representing two mirrors at a
dihedral angle π/''p'', and both are orthogonal to a third mirror. It is also represented by Coxeter diagram as .
The direct subgroup is called the para-''p''-gonal group,
,psup>+ ( or ), abstractly D
2''p'', of order 2p, and another subgroup is
+">,p+() abstractly Z
2×''Z''
''p'', also of order 2p.
The ''full gyro-p-gonal group'',
+,2''p''">+,2''p''( or ), abstractly D
4''p'', of order 4''p''. The gyro-''p''-gonal group,
+,2p+">+,2p+( or ), abstractly ''Z''
2''p'', of order 2''p'' is a subgroup of both
+,2''p''">+,2''p''and
+">,2''p''+
The
polyhedral groups are based on the symmetry of
platonic solids: the
tetrahedron,
octahedron,
cube
In geometry, a cube is a three-dimensional solid object bounded by six square faces, facets or sides, with three meeting at each vertex. Viewed from a corner it is a hexagon and its net is usually depicted as a cross.
The cube is the only r ...
,
icosahedron
In geometry, an icosahedron ( or ) is a polyhedron with 20 faces. The name comes and . The plural can be either "icosahedra" () or "icosahedrons".
There are infinitely many non- similar shapes of icosahedra, some of them being more symmetrica ...
, and
dodecahedron, with
Schläfli symbol
In geometry, the Schläfli symbol is a notation of the form \ that defines regular polytopes and tessellations.
The Schläfli symbol is named after the 19th-century Swiss mathematician Ludwig Schläfli, who generalized Euclidean geometry to more ...
s , , , , and respectively. The Coxeter groups for these are:
,3(),
,4(),
,5() called full
tetrahedral symmetry,
octahedral symmetry, and
icosahedral symmetry, with orders of 24, 48, and 120.

In all these symmetries, alternate reflections can be removed producing the rotational tetrahedral
,3sup>+(), octahedral
,4sup>+ (), and icosahedral
,5sup>+ () groups of order 12, 24, and 60. The octahedral group also has a unique index 2 subgroup called the
pyritohedral symmetry group,
+,4">+,4( or ), of order 12, with a mixture of rotational and reflectional symmetry. Pyritohedral symmetry is also an index 5 subgroup of icosahedral symmetry: --> , with virtual mirror 1 across 0, , and 3-fold rotation .
The tetrahedral group,
,3(), has a doubling (which can be represented by colored nodes ), mapping the first and last mirrors onto each other, and this produces the
,4( or ) group. The subgroup
+">,4,1+( or ) is the same as
,3 and
+,4,1+">+,4,1+( or ) is the same as
,3sup>+.
Affine
In the Euclidean plane there's 3 fundamental reflective groups generated by 3 mirrors, represented by Coxeter diagrams , , and , and are given Coxeter notation as
,4 ,3 and
3,3,3) The parentheses of the last group imply the diagram cycle, and also has a shorthand notation
/sup>">
/sup>
as a doubling of the ,4group produced the same symmetry rotated π/4 from the original set of mirrors.
Direct subgroups of rotational symmetry are: ,4sup>+,
,3sup>+, and
3,3,3)sup>+.
+,4">+,4and
+">,3+are semidirect subgroups.
Given in Coxeter notation (
orbifold notation
In geometry, orbifold notation (or orbifold signature) is a system, invented by the mathematician William Thurston and promoted by John Conway, for representing types of symmetry groups in two-dimensional spaces of constant curvature. The advanta ...
), some low index affine subgroups are:
Rank four groups
Point groups
Rank four groups defined the 4-dimensional
point group
In geometry, a point group is a mathematical group of symmetry operations (isometries in a Euclidean space) that have a fixed point in common. The coordinate origin of the Euclidean space is conventionally taken to be a fixed point, and every p ...
s:
Subgroups
Space groups
Line groups
Rank four groups also defined the 3-dimensional
line groups:
Duoprismatic group
Rank four groups defined the 4-dimensional duoprismatic groups. In the limit as p and q go to infinity, they degenerate into 2 dimensions and the wallpaper groups.
Wallpaper groups
Rank four groups also defined some of the 2-dimensional
wallpaper groups, as limiting cases of the four-dimensional duoprism groups:
Subgroups of
��,2,∞ (*2222) can be expressed down to its index 16 commutator subgroup:
Complex reflections

Coxeter notation has been extended to
Complex space, C
n where nodes are
unitary reflections of period 2 or greater. Nodes are labeled by an index, assumed to be 2 for ordinary real reflection if suppressed.
Complex reflection groups are called
Shephard group In mathematics, a complex reflection group is a finite group acting on a finite-dimensional complex vector space that is generated by complex reflections: non-trivial elements that fix a complex hyperplane pointwise.
Complex reflection groups arise ...
s rather than
Coxeter groups, and can be used to construct
complex polytopes.
In
, a rank 1 Shephard group , order ''p'', is represented as
''p'' sub>''p'' or ]
''p'' It has a single generator, representing a 2''π''/''p'' radian rotation in the Complex plane:
.
Coxeter writes the rank 2 complex group,
''p'' 'q''sub>''r'' represents
Coxeter diagram . The ''p'' and ''r'' should only be suppressed if both are 2, which is the real case [''q'']. The order of a rank 2 group
''p'' 'q''sub>''r'' is
.
[Coxeter, Regular Complex Polytopes, 9.7 Two-generator subgroups reflections. pp. 178–179]
The rank 2 solutions that generate complex polygons are:
''p'' sub>2 (''p'' is 2,3,4,...),
3 sub>3,
3 sub>2,
3 sub>3,
4 sub>4,
3 sub>2,
4 sub>2,
4 sub>3,
3 sub>3,
5 sub>5,
3 0sub>2,
5 sub>2, and
5 sub>3 with Coxeter diagrams , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Infinite groups are
3 2sub>2,
4 sub>2,
6 sub>2,
3 sub>3,
6 sub>3,
4 sub>4, and
6 sub>6 or , , , , , , .
Index 2 subgroups exists by removing a real reflection:
''p'' ''q''sub>2 →
''p'' 'q''sub>''p''. Also index ''r'' subgroups exist for 4 branches:
''p'' sub>''r'' →
''p'' 'r''sub>''p''.
For the infinite family
''p'' sub>2, for any ''p'' = 2, 3, 4,..., there are two subgroups:
''p'' sub>2 →
'p'' index ''p'', while and
''p'' sub>2 →
''p'' �
''p'' index 2.
Computation with reflection matrices as symmetry generators
A Coxeter group, represented by
Coxeter diagram , is given Coxeter notation
,qfor the branch orders. Each node in the Coxeter diagram represents a mirror, by convention called ρ
i (and matrix R
i). The ''generators'' of this group
,qare reflections: ρ
0, ρ
1, and ρ
2. Rotational subsymmetry is given as products of reflections: By convention, σ
0,1 (and matrix S
0,1) = ρ
0ρ
1 represents a rotation of angle π/p, and σ
1,2 = ρ
1ρ
2 is a rotation of angle π/q, and σ
0,2 = ρ
0ρ
2 represents a rotation of angle π/2.
,qsup>+, , is an index 2 subgroup represented by two rotation generators, each a products of two reflections: σ
0,1, σ
1,2, and representing rotations of π/''p'', and π/''q'' angles respectively.
With one even branch,
+,2''q''">'p''+,2''q'' or , is another subgroup of index 2, represented by rotation generator σ
0,1, and reflectional ρ
2.
With even branches,
+,2''q''+">''p''+,2''q''+ , is a subgroup of index 4 with two generators, constructed as a product of all three reflection matrices: By convention as: ψ
0,1,2 and ψ
1,2,0, which are
rotary reflection
In geometry, an improper rotation,. also called rotation-reflection, rotoreflection, rotary reflection,. or rotoinversion is an isometry in Euclidean space that is a combination of a rotation about an axis and a reflection in a plane perpendicul ...
s, representing a reflection and rotation or reflection.
In the case of affine Coxeter groups like , or , one mirror, usually the last, is translated off the origin. A
translation generator τ
0,1 (and matrix T
0,1) is constructed as the product of two (or an even number of) reflections, including the affine reflection. A
transreflection
In 2-dimensional geometry, a glide reflection (or transflection) is a symmetry operation that consists of a reflection over a line and then translation along that line, combined into a single operation. The intermediate step between reflectio ...
(reflection plus a translation) can be the product of an odd number of reflections φ
0,1,2 (and matrix V
0,1,2), like the index 4 subgroup :
+,4+">+,4+= .
Another composite generator, by convention as ζ (and matrix Z), represents the
inversion
Inversion or inversions may refer to:
Arts
* , a French gay magazine (1924/1925)
* ''Inversion'' (artwork), a 2005 temporary sculpture in Houston, Texas
* Inversion (music), a term with various meanings in music theory and musical set theory
* ...
, mapping a point to its inverse. For
,3and
,3 ζ = (ρ
0ρ
1ρ
2)
h/2, where ''h'' is 6 and 10 respectively, the
Coxeter number for each family. For 3D Coxeter group
,q(), this subgroup is a rotary reflection
+,h+">+,h+
Coxeter groups are categorized by their rank, being the number of nodes in its
Coxeter-Dynkin diagram. The structure of the groups are also given with their abstract group types: In this article, the abstract
dihedral groups are represented as ''Dih''
n, and
cyclic groups are represented by ''Z''
n, with ''Dih''
1=''Z''
2.
Rank 2
Example, in 2D, the Coxeter group
'p''() is represented by two reflection matrices R
0 and R
1, The cyclic symmetry
'p''sup>+ () is represented by rotation generator of matrix S
0,1.
Rank 3
The finite rank 3 Coxeter groups are
,''p'' ,''p'' ,3 ,4 and
,5
To reflect a point through a plane
(which goes through the origin), one can use
, where
is the 3×3 identity matrix and
is the three-dimensional
unit vector for the vector normal of the plane. If the
L2 norm of
and
is unity, the transformation matrix can be expressed as:
: