The Chen-Gackstatter Minimal Surface is a modified Enneper surface with holes in it. The following Mathematica code uses some functions that were adapted from Matthias Weber’sMathematica notebook:
(* runtime: 0.4 second *)
<< Graphics`Shapes`; k = 5; n = (k - 1)/k; rho = 1.0/Sqrt[4^n Gamma[(3 - n)/2] Gamma[1 + n/2]/(Gamma[(3 +n)/2]Gamma[1 - n/2])];
phi[n_, z_] := z^(1 + n)Hypergeometric2F1[(1 + n)/2, n, (3 + n)/2, z^2]/(1 + n); f[z_] := {0.5(phi[n, z]/rho - rho phi[-n, z]), 0.5I(rho phi[-n, z] + phi[n, z]/rho), z};
surface = ParametricPlot3D[Re[f[r Exp[I theta]]], {r, 0, 2}, {theta, 1*^-6, 2Pi}, PlotPoints -> {9, 33}, Compiled -> False, DisplayFunction -> Identity][[1]];
Show[Graphics3D[Table[RotateShape[surface, 0, 0, 2Pi i/k], {i, 0, k - 1}]]]

This surface can be formed by twisting and warping a singly-periodic Scherk’s minimal surface. This idea was originally attributed to Brent Collins. Technically, the surface is no longer considered exactly “minimal” after twisting but it still looks minimal (it is actually very difficult to find the exact shape for most minimal surfaces). Click here to download some POV-Ray code.

Here is some Mathematica code:
(* runtime: 0.3 second *)
<< Graphics`Master`; n = 5; r = 0.75n;
Twist[{x_, y_, z_}, theta_] := {x Cos[theta] - y Sin[theta], x Sin[theta] + y Cos[theta], z};
Warp[{x_, y_, z_}, theta_] := {(x + r) Cos[theta], (x + r) Sin[theta], y};
f[z_] := Module[{t1 = Sqrt[2Cot[z]], t2 = Cot[z] + 1}, Warp[Twist[Re[{0.5xsign(Log[t1 - t2] - Log[t1 + t2])/Sqrt[2], ysign I(ArcTan[1 - t1] - ArcTan[1 + t1])/Sqrt[2], z}], 2Re[z]/n], 2Re[z]/n]];
DisplayTogether[Table[ParametricPlot3D[f[x + I y], {x, 0, n Pi}, {y, 0.001, 0.75}, PlotPoints -> {8n + 1, 5}, Compiled -> False], {xsign, -1, 1, 2}, {ysign, -1, 1, 2}]]

The following Mathematica code can be used to increase the number of edges (or “branches”). This code uses some complicated functions that were adapted from Matthias Weber’s Mathematica notebook:
(* runtime: 1.2 seconds *)
<< Graphics`Shapes`; k = 4; phi = Pi(0.6/k - 0.5)/(1 - k);
f[z_] := Re[NIntegrate[Evaluate[{0.5 (w^(1 - k) - w^(k - 1)), 0.5 I (w^(1 - k) + w^(k - 1)), 1}/(w^(k + 1) + w^(1 - k) - 2w Cos[k phi])], {w, 0, z}]];
alpha = Pi/k; zbeta = Exp[I Pi(phi/alpha - 0.5)];
surface = ParametricPlot3D[Re[f[Exp[I alpha/2]((1 + I zbeta Exp[r + I theta])/(I Exp[r + I theta] -zbeta))^(alpha/Pi)]], {r, 0, 4}, {theta, 0, Pi}, PlotPoints -> 10, Compiled -> False, DisplayFunction -> Identity][[1]];
z0 = f[1][[3]]; surface = {surface, AffineShape[TranslateShape[surface, {0, 0, -2z0}], {1, 1, -1}]};
surface = {surface, AffineShape[surface, {1, -1, 1}]}; surface = Table[RotateShape[surface, 2Pi i/k, 0, 0], {i, 1, k}];
dz = Pi Csc[k phi]/k; Show[Graphics3D[Table[TranslateShape[surface, {0, 0, i dz}], {i, 0, 1}]]]


Links

• “Whirled White Web” – a beautiful snow sculpture by Brent Collins
• Sculpture Generator - C++ program for Scherk-Collins surfaces by Carlo Séquin
• Bathsheba Grossman – metal printed math sculptures
• Torolf Sauermann – math art

Here is a helicoidwith holes in it. The following Mathematica code uses some complicated functions that were adapted from Matthias Weber’sMathematica notebook:
(* runtime: 4 seconds *)
<< Graphics`Shapes`;
tau0 = Exp[1.23409 I]; b0 = 0.629065; theta[z_] := EllipticTheta[1, Pi z, Exp[I Pi tau0]];
r1[z_] := theta[z + 0.5 (b0 - 2) (tau0 + 1)]/theta[z + 0.5 (b0 - 1) (tau0 + 1)]; r2[z_] := theta[z - 0.5 b0 (tau0 + 1)]/theta[z - 0.5 (b0 + 1) (tau0 + 1)];
omega3[z_] := r1[z] r2[z]/(0.386191 - 0.169839 I); G[z_] := (108.37 - 62.8417 I) Exp[I Pi (b0 - 2 z + 2 tau0 + b0 tau0)]r1[z]/r2[z];
f[z0_] := Re[NIntegrate[Evaluate[{-(G[z] omega3[z] - omega3[z]/G[z] )/2, I(G[z] omega3[z] + omega3[z]/G[z] )/2, omega3[z]}], {z, tau0/2, z0}]] + {0.434156, 0, -1};
a0 = -0.409956; r0 = 2.43051; g[z_] := (EllipticF[ArcSin[(a0 + r0 E^z)/(1 - a0 E^z)], 1/r0^2]/(2EllipticF[Pi/2, 1/r0^2]) + 0.5)(1 + tau0)/2;
surface = ParametricPlot3D[f[g[x + I y]], {x, -2.5, 2.5 - 0.8881}, {y, 0.001,0.999Pi}, PlotPoints -> {15, 10}, Compiled -> False, DisplayFunction -> Identity][[1]];
surface = {surface, RotateShape[surface, 0, 0, Pi]};
Show[Graphics3D[{surface, TranslateShape[surface, {0, 0, 2}]}, ViewPoint -> {1, 6, 3}]];

The following Mathematica code uses some functions that were adapted from Matthias Weber’sMathematica notebook:
(* runtime: 0.4 second *)
<< Graphics`Shapes`;
k = 5; phi1[z_] := z^(k - 1) (k/(1 - z^k) - (k - 1) LerchPhi[z^k, 1, 1 - 1/k])/k^2; phi2[z_] := z(1/(1 - z^k) + (k - 1)LerchPhi[z^k, 1, 1/k]/k)/k;
f[z_] := {0.5 (phi2[z] - phi1[z]), 0.5 I (phi1[z] + phi2[z]), 1/(k - k z^k)};
surface = ParametricPlot3D[Re[f[(1 + 2/(I Exp[x + I y] - 1))^(2/k)]], {x,0, Pi/2}, {y, -Pi/2, Pi/2}, PlotPoints -> {8, 16}, Compiled -> False, DisplayFunction -> Identity][[1]];
surface = {surface, AffineShape[surface, {1, -1, 1}]};
Show[Graphics3D[Table[RotateShape[surface, 0, 0, 2Pi i/k], {i, 0, k - 1}]]];

Links

• Mathematica notebook – by Matthias Weber
• Symmetric 4-Noid – at the Virtual Math Museum

This minimal surface is a cross between acatenoid andhelicoid. It would be interesting to see what really happens when a spring is covered with a soap film. Click here to download some POV-Ray code. Here is some Mathematica code:
(* runtime: 0.6 second *)
x := Sin[alpha]Cosh[v]; y := Cos[alpha]Sinh[v];
Do[ParametricPlot3D[{x Cos[u] + y Sin[u], x Sin[u] - y Cos[u], u Cos[alpha] + v Sin[alpha]}, {u, 0, 2Pi}, {v, -2.25, 2.25}, PlotPoints -> {36, 10}], {alpha, -Pi/2, Pi/2, Pi/18}];

Links

• Venice Museum Bridge – bridge proposal, by Eric Worcester
• Marina Bayfront Pedestrian Bridge – double-helix bridge in Singapore
• Soap Film Coil Photo – by the Exploratorium
  

Strange fractal patterns emerge when you plot the complex roots of high order polynomials. This picture shows all the roots for all possible combinations of 18th order polynomials with coefficients of ±1. You can easily find the roots using Mathematica’s Root function:

(* runtime: 34 seconds *)
n = 12; m = 275; image = Table[0.0, {m}, {m}];
Do[Do[z = N[Root[Sum[(2Mod[Floor[(t - 1)/2^i], 2] - 1) #^(n - i), {i, 0, n}], root]];
{j,i} = Round[m({Re[z], Im[z]}/1.5 + 1)/2];
If[0 < i <= m && 0 < j <= m, image[[i, j]]++], {root, 1, n}], {t, 1, 2^n}];
ListDensityPlot[image, Mesh -> False, Frame -> False, PlotRange -> {0, 4}]

Links

• Constrained Coefficients – beautiful plots by Loki Jörgenson
• description – by John Baez
• Integer Coefficients – slightly different plots by Dan Christensen
• Root Finding Algorithms – Wikipedia

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)

Links

• Fluids v.1 – fast SPH C++ program by Rama Hoetzlein
• Physics Demos – fluid Java applets by Grant Kot
• Water Figures – beautiful high-speed camera splashes by Fotoopa
• Fluid Animations – amazing animations by Ron Fedkiw, with Eran Guendelman,Andrew Selle, Frank Losasso, et al.
• Free Surface Fluid Simulations – impressive simulations using the Lattice-Boltzmann method with level sets, by Nils Thuerey, author of Blender’s fluid package
• Fluid v1.0 – C++ program for fluid surfaces by Maciej Matyka, uses Marker And Cell (MAC) method
• ball in water – nice 3D POV-Ray animation by Fidos
• Splash – analytical Mathematica plot by Dr. Jim Swift
• Smoke Animations – by Jos Stam, Henrik Jensen, Ron Fedkiw, et al.
• Fire Animations – by Duc Nguyen, Henrik Jensen, Ron Fedkiw
• Bouncing liquid jets – University of Texas
• Mark Stock - impressive fluid simulation artwork

Polychorons are the 4D version of polyhedrons. One way to visualize a polychoron is to apply a 4D to 3D stereographic projection to it. A dodecaplex is a uniform 4D polychoron composed 120 dodecahedral cells. These cells can be divided into 12 rings (Hopf fibrations) of 10 cells each. This picture shows a stereographic projection of 6 rings of the dodecaplex. Each ring is shown in a different color, but only 5 rings are open to direct view because they are wrapped around the 6th ring. I first saw this concept on Matthias Weber’s book page. Click here to download some POV-Ray code.

Links

• Jenn 3D – polytope program, by Fritz Obermeyer
• The HyperSphere, from an Artistic point of View – explanation by Rebecca Frankel
• 120 Cell Soap Bubbles – by John Sullivan
• Regular Polytopes – Mathematica notebook by Russell Towle
• 4D Star Polytope Animations – data by Russell Towle
• POV-Ray include files – by Russell Towle
• Magic 120 Cell – OpenGL program by Roice Nelson, et al.

Here is a stereographic projection of a dodecahedron. This is the 3D counterpart to the 4D dodecaplex. Here is some Mathematica code:
(* runtime: 0.4 second *)
z1 = (Sqrt[5] - 3)/Sqrt[30.0 - 6 Sqrt[5]]; z2 = Sqrt[(1 + 2/Sqrt[5])/3.0]; r1 = Sqrt[2(1 + 1/Sqrt[5])/3.0]; r2 = Sqrt[2(1 - 1/Sqrt[5])/3.0];
vertices = Join[Table[{r2 Cos[theta], r2 Sin[theta], z2}, {theta, 0, 2Pi - 0.4Pi, 0.4Pi}], Table[z1 = -z1; {r1 Cos[theta], r1 Sin[theta], z1}, {theta, 0, 1.8Pi, 0.2Pi}], Table[{r2 Cos[theta], r2 Sin[theta], -z2}, {theta, 0.2Pi, 1.8Pi, 0.4Pi}]];
edges = {{1, 2}, {2, 3}, {3, 4}, {4, 5}, {5, 1}, {1, 6}, {2, 8}, {3, 10}, {4, 12}, {5, 14}, {6, 7}, {7, 8}, {8, 9}, {9, 10}, {10, 11}, {11, 12}, {12, 13}, {13, 14}, {14, 15}, {15, 6}, {7, 16}, {9, 17}, {11, 18}, {13, 19}, {15, 20}, {16,17}, {17, 18}, {18, 19}, {19, 20}, {20, 16}};
Show[Graphics3D[Map[Line[vertices[[#]]] &, edges]]]
Norm[x_] := x.x; Normalize[x_] := x/Sqrt[x.x]; Rx[theta_] := {{1, 0, 0}, {0, Cos[theta], -Sin[theta]}, {0,Sin[theta], Cos[theta]}};
ProjectPoint[{x_, y_, z_}] := 2{x, y}/(1 - z);
ProjectSegment[{v1_, v2_}] := Module[{p1 = ProjectPoint[v1], p2 = ProjectPoint[v2]}, {nx, ny, nz} = Normalize[Cross[v1, v2]]; If[nz != 0, p0 = -2{nx, ny}/nz; r = 2/Abs[nz]; theta = Sign[nz]Re[ArcCos[(p1 - p0).(p2 - p0)/Sqrt[Norm[p1 - p0]Norm[p2 - p0]]]], theta = 0]; If[Abs[theta] > 0.001, theta1 = ArcTan[p1[[1]] - p0[[1]], p1[[2]] - p0[[2]]]; theta2 = theta1 + theta; If[theta1 > theta2, t = theta1; theta1 = theta2; theta2 = t]; Circle[p0, r, {theta1, theta2}], Line[{p1, p2}]]];
Do[Show[Graphics[Map[ProjectSegment[Map[Rx[phi].# &, vertices[[#]]]] &, edges], PlotRange -> 6{{-1, 1}, {-1, 1}}, AspectRatio -> Automatic]], {phi, 0, 2Pi, Pi/18}];

One way to create a Double Spiralis by applying a light projection from the top of a Riemann sphere (loxodrome) onto a plane.

This type of projection is called a stereographic projection.

Click here to download a Mathematica notebook. Here is some Mathematica code:
(* runtime: 3 seconds *)
<< Graphics`Shapes`; a = 0.25; Rx[phi_] := {{1, 0, 0}, {0, Cos[phi], -Sin[phi]}, {0, Sin[phi], Cos[phi]}};
Do[loxodrome = Table[Rx[phi].{Sin[t], -a t, -Cos[t]}/Sqrt[1 + (a t)^2], {t, -100, 100, 0.1}]; projection = Map[Module[{r = 2/(1 - #[[3]])}, {r #[[1]],r #[[2]], -1}] &, loxodrome]; Show[Graphics3D[{EdgeForm[], Sphere[0.99, 37, 19], Polygon[{{4, 4, -1}, {-4, 4, -1}, {-4, -4, -1}, {4, -4, -1}}],Line[loxodrome], Line[projection]},PlotRange -> {{-4, 4}, {-4, 4}, {-1, 1}}]], {phi, 0, Pi -Pi/12, Pi/12}]

Another kind of double spiral can be made by applying a special homography to a single logarithmic spiral:
(* runtime: 0.05 second *)
Show[Graphics[Table[Line[Table[z = Exp[r + (2 r + theta)I]; z = (1 + z)/(1 - z); {Re[z], Im[z]}, {r, -10, 10, 0.1}]], {theta, -Pi, Pi, Pi/3}], PlotRange -> {{-2, 2}, {-2, 2}}, AspectRatio -> Automatic]]

Here is some Mathematica code that uses the inverse method:
(* runtime: 17 seconds *)
Show[Graphics[RasterArray[Table[r1 = (x - 1)^2 + y^2; r2 = (x + 1)^2 + y^2; Hue[(Sign[y]ArcCos[(x^2 + y^2 - 1)/Sqrt[r1 r2]] -Log[r1/r2])/(2Pi)], {x, -2, 2, 4/274}, {y, -2, 2, 4/274}]], AspectRatio -> 1]]
and here is some POV-Ray code:
// runtime: 2 seconds
camera{orthographic location <0,0,-2> look_at 0 angle 90}
#declare r1=function(x,y) {(x-1)*(x-1)+y*y}; #declare r2=function(x,y) {(x+1)*(x+1)+y*y};
#declare f=function{(y/abs(y)*acos((x*x+y*y-1)/sqrt(r1(x,y)*r2(x,y)))-ln(r1(x,y)/r2(x,y)))/(2*pi)};
plane{z,0 pigment{function{f(x,y,0)}} finish{ambient 1}}

Links

• Old version
• other double spiral formulas – Cornu spiral (clothoid), tanh spiral
• Whirlpools – famous double spiral tessellation by M.C. Escher
• Loxodrome animation – by Frank Jones