Block agar: Difference between revisions

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{{Glossary}}
{{Glossary}}
The '''block agar''' is an [[agar]] consisting of blocks arranged periodically in rows and columns, with distance of 1 cell between any two adjacent rows or columns. The average field density of the block agar is 4/9.
The '''block agar''' is an [[agar]] consisting of [[block]]s arranged periodically in rows and columns, with distance of 1 cell between any two adjacent rows or columns. The average field density of the block agar is 4/9.


Sometimes, more sparse arrangements of blocks are also described as block agars.{{refn|[[Lifeline Volume 3#Page 29]]}}
Sometimes, more sparse arrangements of blocks are also described as block agars.{{refn|[[Lifeline Volume 3#Page 29]]}}

Revision as of 20:16, 18 April 2023

The block agar is an agar consisting of blocks arranged periodically in rows and columns, with distance of 1 cell between any two adjacent rows or columns. The average field density of the block agar is 4/9.

Sometimes, more sparse arrangements of blocks are also described as block agars.[1]

Reactions in the block agar

If an alive cell ("virus") is added to the block agar so that it touches the corners of four blocks, the agar self-repairs in two ticks. However, when a single cell is added so that it touches cells of two different blocks, it initiates an expanding disintegration of the agar.[2]

Space clearers for the block agar and for one quarter of the block agar were found by Hartmut Holzwart;[3] these space clearers are reactions that expand through the infinite agar and leave empty space behind.[4]

There are known p3 lightspeed "trimmers" on an array of blocks with zebra stripes boundary.[5]

Finite patches

Finite rectangular patches of the block agar (n-by-m block arrays) are pseudo still lifes; the simplest example is the bi-block, which is the 1 × 2 block array.

x\y 1 2 3 ...
1 →
2
3
... ↓ ↘

Glider synthesis

In 2005, Jason Summers found a way to extend any 2 × n block array.[6]

On December 3, 2015, Martin Grant found a method of constructing a 3 × n block array via glider synthesis.[7]

On May 6, 2020, Goldtiger997 found a method of constructing a 4 × n block array.[8]

The problem of constructing an arbitrary m-by-n block array is still unsolved.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Lifeline Volume 3#Page 29
  2. ↑ Martin Gardner, Wheels, Life, and Other Mathematical Amusements, The Game of Life, Part II
  3. ↑ Hartmut Holzwart (July 2, 2020). Re: Agar crawlers (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  4. ↑ Dave Greene (April 15, 2023). Re: Thread for basic questions (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  5. ↑ wildmyron (September 21, 2020). Re: 'Skimmers' (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  6. ↑ Heinrich Koenig (April 20, 2005). "Block Array Constructions". Game of Life News.
  7. ↑ Martin Grant (December 3, 2015). Re: Synthesising Oscillators (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  8. ↑ Goldtiger997 (May 6, 2020). Re: Synthesising Oscillators (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  9. ↑ https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=140125#p140125
  10. ↑ https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=146722#p146722