The Laplacian Spectrum of the Truncated Octahedron Face Adjacency Graph

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Authors: Luke Martin
Cited by: 20

Abstract

We compute the exact spectrum of the graph Laplacian on the face adjacency graph of the truncated octahedron (Kelvin cell). The 14 faces (6 squares, 8 hexagons) form a graph where two faces are adjacent if they share an edge. The Laplacian eigenvalues are: 0 (×1), (9−√17)/2 (×3), 4 (×2), (9+√17)/2 (×3), 7 (×4), 9 (×1). The characteristic polynomial factors completely: p(λ) = λ(λ²−9λ+16)³(λ−4)²(λ−7)⁴(λ−9). All eigenvalues are algebraic numbers over Q(√17). Using the full octahedral symmetry group O_h (order 48), each eigenspace is identified with an irreducible representation: A1g, T1u, Eg, T1u, A1g⊕T2g, A2u. All results verified by trace identities, numerical computation, and character-theoretic decomposition. The truncated octahedron face graph arises naturally in BCC lattice tiling, where the spectral gap (9−√17)/2 ≈ 2.438 governs diffusion and equilibration through face-to-face coupling.UFFT Paper #5. Foundational spectrum paper — all subsequent UFFT derivations depend on these eigenvalues. Part of the Unified Foam Field Theory (B + V = D). Zero free parameters. GitHub: https://github.com/WebEnvy/UnifiedFoamFieldTheory

Fields of Study & Subjects

Quasicrystal Structures and Properties Graph theory and applications Spectral Theory in Mathematical Physics

Publication details

Journal / source
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Publication date
15 March 2026
Document type
Preprint