Symmetry, Antisymmetry, and Chirality: Use and Misuse of Terminology

Abstract

We outline the need for rigorous and consensual definitions in the field of symmetry, in particular about chirality. We provide examples of confusing use of such terminology in the mathematical literature and in the physics literature. In particular, we prove that an antisymmetric function is symmetric for a wide class of metrics. It may be either direct-symmetric or achiral or both direct-symmetric and achiral.