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arXiv:math/0503504math.DS

RealLife: the continuum limit of Larger Than Life cellular automata

Marcus Pivato

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Abstract

Let A:={0,1}. A `cellular automaton' (CA) is a shift-commuting transformation of A^{Z^D} determined by a local rule. Likewise, a `Euclidean automaton' is a shift-commuting transformation of A^{R^D} determined by a local rule. `Larger than Life' (LtL) CA are long-range generalizations of J.H. Conway's Game of Life CA, proposed by K.M. Evans. We prove a conjecture of Evans: as their radius grows to infinity, LtL CA converge to a `continuum limit' Euclidean automaton, which we call `RealLife'. We also show that the `life forms' (fixed points, periodic orbits, and propagating structures) of LtL CA converge to life forms of RealLife. Finally we prove a number of existence results for fixed points of RealLife.

arXiv comments
22 pages, 3 figures. Final Version
Journal reference
Theoretical Computer Science, 372 (#1), March 2007, pp. 46-68
DOI
doi:10.1016/j.tcs.2006.11.019
Subjects
math.DSDynamical Systems

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    • Pet Peeve Rant: Just like in the case of SmoothLife (which Lenia generalizes), the square grid used for this implies a lack of isotropy(we could also say that it "introduces anisotropy"; but that makes it sounds like a good thing), EVEN IF you turn the entire thing continuous…

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