Modernizing Hat Operators in Latex

Are you tired of the same old hat operators? Does \bar{} or \hat{} make you want to yawn? Even worse, is the boredom induced by these markers causing you to fall behind in classes?

I say out with the old, in with the new, so check out these hats. Engaging enough to get you that A, subtle enough to let the math do the talking.

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BibTeX entry for post:

@misc{belsten2023hats,
  author = {Belsten, Alexander},
  title = {Modernizing Hat Operators in Latex},
  howpublished = "\url{https://belsten.github.io/blog/latex-hats/}",
  date = {2023-03-30}
}

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How to reproduce:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{pict2e}

\DeclareRobustCommand{\howdyhat}{
  \begingroup\setlength{\unitlength}{\fontcharht\font`A}
  \begin{picture}(.5,1)
  \roundcap
  \put(-0,-.15){\line(-1,1.5){0.11}} 
  \put(0.5,-.15){\line(1,1.5){0.11}} 
  \put(-0,-.15){\line(1,0){0.5}} 
  \put(0.1,-.15){\line(0,1){0.2}} 
  \put(0.4,-.15){\line(0,1){0.2}} 
  \put(0.1,0.05){\line(1,1){0.075}} 
  \put(0.4,0.05){\line(-1,1){0.075}} 
  \put(0.18,0.12){\line(1,-1){0.065}} 
  \put(0.32,0.12){\line(-1,-1){0.065}} 
  \end{picture}
  \endgroup
}

\DeclareRobustCommand{\partyhat}{
  \begingroup\setlength{\unitlength}{\fontcharht\font`A}
  \begin{picture}(.5,1)
  \roundcap
  \put(-0,-.15){\line(1,3){0.25}}
  \put(-0,-.15){\line(1,0){0.5}}
  \put(0.5,-.15){\line(-1,3){0.25}}
  \put(-0,-.15){\line(1,.5){0.4}}
  \put(0.09,0.075){\line(1,.5){0.27}}
  \put(0.17,0.3){\line(1,.5){0.13}}
  \end{picture}
  \endgroup
}

\DeclareRobustCommand{\abehat}{
  \begingroup\setlength{\unitlength}{\fontcharht\font`A}
  \begin{picture}(.5,1)
  \roundcap
  \put(-0.1,-.15){\line(1,0){0.75}} 
  \put(0.12,-.05){\line(1,0){0.32}} 
  \put(0.1,-.15){\line(0,1){0.7}}
  \put(0.45,-.15){\line(0,1){0.7}}
  \put(0.1,0.55){\line(1,0){0.35}}
  \end{picture}
  \endgroup
}

\DeclareRobustCommand{\witchhat}{
  \begingroup\setlength{\unitlength}{\fontcharht\font`A}
  \begin{picture}(.5,1)
  \roundcap
  \put(-0.15,-.15){\line(1,0){0.85}} 
  \put(0.02,-.15){\line(1,3){0.25}}
  \put(0.52,-.15){\line(-1,3){0.25}}
  \end{picture}
  \endgroup
}

\newcommand\popacaponit[2]{\mathrel{\stackrel{\makebox[0pt]{\mbox{$#2$}}}{#1}}}
\newcommand\howdy[1]{\popacaponit{#1}{\howdyhat}}
\newcommand\party[1]{\popacaponit{#1}{\partyhat}}
\newcommand\abe[1]{\popacaponit{#1}{\abehat}}
\newcommand\witch[1]{\popacaponit{#1}{\witchhat}}

\begin{document}
\begin{equation}
  \howdy{x} \ \ \ \ \party{x} \ \ \ \ \abe{x} \ \ \ \ \witch{x}
\end{equation}
\end{document}