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| − | A '''cellular automaton''' is a 4-tuple <math> \{ Z, S, N, f\} </math>, where: | + | [[Image:2dCCA-n16.png|right|thumb|A two-dimensional cyclic cellular automaton with 16 states, on a 300×300 torus, after 400 steps starting from a random initial configuration. At this stage in the automaton's evolution, three different types of pattern can be seen: random fields similar to the starting configuration, large blocks of color, and spirals. Eventually the spirals will take over the entire field.]] |
| | + | A '''cellular automaton''' is a 4-tuple <math> \left ( Z, S, N, f\right ) </math>, where: |
| | * <math>Z</math> is a [[lattice]]. | | * <math>Z</math> is a [[lattice]]. |
| | * <math>S</math> is a finite set of cell ''states'' or ''values''. | | * <math>S</math> is a finite set of cell ''states'' or ''values''. |
| | * <math>I</math> is the finite ''neighborhood''. | | * <math>I</math> is the finite ''neighborhood''. |
| − | * <math>f</math> is the ''local transition function''. | + | * <math>f</math> is the ''transition function''. |
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| − | The lattice is a grid filled with cells, each cell is uniquely identified by its coordinates and value. The cellular automaton evolves via the local transition function with respect to the discrete time variable. | + | The lattice is a grid filled with cells, each cell is uniquely identified by its coordinates and value. The cellular automaton evolves via the transition function with respect to the discrete time variable. |
| | + | [[Image:Rule 184.png|left|thumb|The Rule 184 cellular automaton, run for 128 steps each from three random initial confgurations with density 25%, 50%, and 75%.]] |
| | + | Lattice-Gas Cellular Automatons can be used to model physical systems such as fluid and biological systems. ''Mathematica'' uses a cellular automatons as a random number generator. |
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| − | [[category:mathematics]] | + | ==Further reading== |
| − | [[category:computer science]] | + | :[http://www.stephenwolfram.com/publications/articles/ca/86-fluids/index.html Cellular Automaton Fluids: Basic Theory], Stephen Wolfram, 1986. |
| | + | :[http://www.stephenwolfram.com/publications/articles/ca/86-random/index.html Random Sequence Generation by Cellular Automata], Stephen Wolfram, 1986. |
| | + | :[http://www.stephenwolfram.com/publications/articles/ca/85-thermodynamics/index.html Thermodynamics and Hydrodynamics of Cellular Automata], Stephen Wolfram, 1985. |
| | + | :[http://www.stephenwolfram.com/publications/articles/ca/85-cryptography/index.html Cryptography with Cellular Automata], Stephen Wolfram, 1986. |
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| | + | [[Category:Mathematics]] |
| | + | [[Category:Computer Science]] |