Math & Science ⇒ Smaller \odot for a symbol index

[Cham]

I'm looking for a smaller version of the \odot symbol, to be used as an index to another symbol. Here's a MWE of the current \odot :

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt,letterpaper,twoside]{book}
\usepackage{lmodern}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

	\begin{equation}
		t_{\odot} = t_{\star} = t_{\circ} = t_0 = t_{\bullet} = t_{\ast}.
	\end{equation}

\end{document}

The index shown on the left is a bit too large, compared with the \star index on the right. The variation t_{\circ} is nice, but I would prefer to have a small dot in the middle of the circle, since it's a bit looking like the "0" index. The \bullet index is too strong (it feels heavy !).

Is there a simple way in doing a smaller \odot, or a smaller \bullet ?

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Quick idea: \mathrel of relsize.

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\usepackage{relsize}
\newcommand*{\mydot}{\mathrel{\mathsmaller{\mathsmaller{\odot}}}}

I used \mathrel two times, even if it's hardly noticeable. But here it makes a difference:

Code: Select all

\[ x\odot x\mydot x\mathsmaller{\odot}x \]

Stefan

[Cham]

Interesting ! Is there another command to make it a bit smaller ? \mathsmaller isn't enough, I think.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

\scalebox of the graphicx package is another way. So you can resize as you want. One may not like to resize fonts this way, but a circle with a dot is so easy in shape.

Code: Select all

\usepackage{graphicx}
\newcommand*{\mydot}{\mathrel{\scalebox{0.4}{$\odot$}}

Stefan

[Cham]

That one appears to be good ! Thanks a lot Stefan !

[Cham]

Just to say that I've found a nice alternative to my problem : use the pifont package for a good choice of dingbats :

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt,letterpaper,twoside]{book}
\usepackage{lmodern}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{tensor}
\usepackage{pifont}

\begin{document}

	\begin{equation}
		\tensor{t}{_{\circ}} = \tensor{t}{_{\text{\tiny{\ding{70}}}}} = \tensor{t}{_{\text{\tiny{\ding{89}}}}} = \tensor{t}{_{\text{\tiny{\ding{106}}}}} = \tensor{t}{_{\bullet}} = \tensor{t}{_0} = \tensor{t}{_{\star}}.
	\end{equation}

\end{document}

[Cham]

I just found that we can reduce the math symbol using a simple trick, without calling a new package :

Code: Select all

\tensor{t}{_{\text{\tiny{$\bullet$}}}}

or for the \odot :

Code: Select all

\tensor{t}{_{\text{\tiny{$\odot$}}}}

[Stefan Kottwitz]

This works at that place, but at an index position it's smaller as at a normal position and bigger than at an index of an index. That's why I started with the relative \mathsmaller.

But it's fine if it works for you. I just would make it to a macro via \newcommand, so you can adjust it at any time. Such constructs should not be repeated but used as macro definition.

Stefan