Switch engine ping-pong: Difference between revisions

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|bx          = 210515
|bx          = 210515
|by          = 183739
|by          = 183739
|dir          = Diagonal
|p            = 2326656
|s            = c/12
|discoverer  = Michael Simkin
|discoverer  = Michael Simkin
|discoveryear = 2014
|discoveryear = 2014
|rle          = true
|rle          = true
|synthesis    = 12
|synthesis2  = 7
}}
}}
'''Switch engine ping-pong''' is a [[quadratic growth]] pattern that was found by [[:Category:Patterns found by Michael Simkin|Michael Simkin]] on October 29, [[:Category:Patterns found in 2014|2014]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14050#p14050|title=Re: 23 cells quadratic growth (new record)|author=Michael Simkin|date=October 29, 2014|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref> In terms of its [[:Category:Patterns with 23 cells|23]] cells it is the smallest currently known quadratic growth pattern, superseding the previous record holder, [[24-cell quadratic growth]], also found by Simkin a week earlier.
'''Switch engine ping-pong''' is a [[quadratic growth]] pattern that was found by [[Michael Simkin]] on October 29, {{year|2014}}.<ref name="post14050" /> In terms of its {{cells|23|text=23 cells}} it was formerly the smallest known quadratic growth pattern, superseding the previous record holder, [[24-cell quadratic growth]], also found by Simkin a week earlier, but having since been beaten out by [[22-cell quadratic growth|22-cell]], [[21-cell quadratic growth|21-cell]], and [[20-cell quadratic growth|20-cell]] quadratic growth patterns in {{year|2022}}.


It is the first such pattern found that uses only 2 [[switch engine]]s.
The initial state of the pattern contains a [[pre-block]] and a [[glider]] headed towards an [[R-pentomino]] [[grandparent]] in the top-left corner, and a glider headed towards an R-pentomino in the bottom-right. The R-pentomino and glider interactions create two parallel switch engines headed to the top-right, and a [[middleweight spaceship]] which collides with them repeatedly to form switch engines headed to the bottom-right, leading to quadratic growth.
 
It was the first such pattern found that uses only 2 [[switch engine]]s. It showed that quadratic growth can be [[glider synthesis|synthesized]] with no more than 7 gliders<ref name="post135214" />. This record has since been improved to 6 gliders.<ref name="post143450" />


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery style="text-align:center;">
File:Switchenginepingpong 40e12.png|Generation 40,210,710,958,656
File:Switchenginepingpong 40e12.png|Generation 40,210,710,958,656, viewed at a scale of 2<sup>36</sup>:1.
File:Switchenginepingpong 40e12 2e13.png|Generation 40,210,710,958,656, viewed at a scale of 2<sup>13</sup>:1; zooming in on the left corner of the "solid triangle" reveals that it is in fact made up of branching "lines".
File:Switchenginepingpong 40e12 scale1.png|Generation 40,210,710,958,656, viewed at a scale of 1:1; zooming in further on the leftmost "branching point" reveals the structure of the "lines".
</gallery>
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references>
<ref name="post14050">{{LinkForumThread
|format = ref
|p = 14050
|title = Re: 23 cells quadratic growth (new record)
|author = Michael Simkin
|date = October 29, 2014
}}</ref>
<ref name="post135214">{{LinkForumThread
|format = ref
|title  = Re: Thread For Your Accidental Discoveries
|p      = 135214
|author = ColorfulGabrielsp138
|date  = August 23, 2021
}}</ref>
<ref name="post143450">{{LinkForumThread
|format = ref
|p      = 143450
|title  = Re: Small Quadratic Growth Patterns
|author = dani
|date  = March 27th, 2022
}}</ref>
</references>


==External links==
==External links==
{{LinkLexicon|lex_s.htm#switchenginepingpong}}
* {{LinkLexicon|lex_s.htm#switchenginepingpong}}
 
[[Category:Patterns involving switch engines]]

Latest revision as of 17:48, 17 January 2024

Switch engine ping-pong
Switch engine ping-pong image
Pattern type Breeder
Number of cells 23
Bounding box 210515 × 183739
Direction Diagonal
Period 2326656
Speed c/12
Discovered by Michael Simkin
Year of discovery 2014

Switch engine ping-pong is a quadratic growth pattern that was found by Michael Simkin on October 29, 2014.[1] In terms of its 23 cells it was formerly the smallest known quadratic growth pattern, superseding the previous record holder, 24-cell quadratic growth, also found by Simkin a week earlier, but having since been beaten out by 22-cell, 21-cell, and 20-cell quadratic growth patterns in 2022.

The initial state of the pattern contains a pre-block and a glider headed towards an R-pentomino grandparent in the top-left corner, and a glider headed towards an R-pentomino in the bottom-right. The R-pentomino and glider interactions create two parallel switch engines headed to the top-right, and a middleweight spaceship which collides with them repeatedly to form switch engines headed to the bottom-right, leading to quadratic growth.

It was the first such pattern found that uses only 2 switch engines. It showed that quadratic growth can be synthesized with no more than 7 gliders[2]. This record has since been improved to 6 gliders.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Michael Simkin (October 29, 2014). Re: 23 cells quadratic growth (new record) (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  2. ↑ ColorfulGabrielsp138 (August 23, 2021). Re: Thread For Your Accidental Discoveries (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  3. ↑ dani (March 27th, 2022). Re: Small Quadratic Growth Patterns (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums