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Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Ancient Islamic patterns with quasi-crystalline properties have triggered significant discussion and a number of debates on the scientific relevance of Islamic geometry. Astonishingly, eight centuries before their discovery in modern science, ancient artists created patterns with quasi-crystalline geometry. The discovery of “forbidden symmetries” in the 1980s shook the bedrock of theoretical solid-state science, prompting a foundational shift in the understanding of crystallography. Three decades after their initial discovery hundreds of quasi-crystalline formations have been uncovered; however, a full understanding of their generating principles and long-range structural order is still posing many challenges. Dr. Ajlouni will introduce the simple relational method that was used to construct these ancient formations using a compass and a straightedge.