arXiv · 2606.24693
An aperiodic set of Wang tiles for every quadratic irrational
Abstract
We propose a sufficient condition for the non-periodicity of a set of Wang tiles. It applies to sets of Wang tiles whose tiles have vertical or horizontal stripes. The proof is based on a geometric argument involving a quadrilateral circumscribed to a parabola from which we conclude the irrationality of the densities of the vertical and horizontal stripes. We apply the sufficient condition to propose new proofs of non-periodicity of known sets of Wang tiles, including an encoding of Penrose tilings into 24 Wang tiles and the family of metallic mean Wang tiles. Conversely, for every pair $(\alpha,\beta)\in[0,1]^2$ of irrational numbers in the same quadratic number field, we construct a finite aperiodic set of Wang tiles with stripes that admits a valid tiling whose density of vertical stripes is $\alpha$ and density of horizontal stripes is $\beta$.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Jarkko Kari, Sébastien Labbé, Pieter Mostert. 2026-06-23. An aperiodic set of Wang tiles for every quadratic irrational. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.24693
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.