Line crosser

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A line crosser is a pattern which is able to send a signal across an infinite diagonal line of live cells without destroying the line. David Bell built one such pattern in August 2006. It uses many one-shot period 44160 glider guns on both sides of the line having the proper synchronization to create the reactions shown in line-cutting reaction and line-mending reaction.

An input glider can arrive at any multiple of 44160 generations to first cut the line, then send a glider through the gap, and finally mend the line while leaving an output glider on the other side.

In 2018, using variants of the reactions shown in line-cutting reaction and line-mending reaction, Dave Greene built a smaller stable line crosser that can accept gliders with any timing, as long as they are separated by 501 or more ticks.