Structurally Dynamic Cellular Automata

A new kind of cellular automato n (CA) model is intr odu ced in which binary value-configurations and the (conventionally qui escent) unde rlying topological struct ure are dynamically coupled. Topology alterati ons are defined by local transition rules anal ogous to the value functions studied in conventiona l CA models defined on fixed lattices. Preliminary investigation reveals a rich spec t rum of evolutionary behavior , including growth , decay, pe riodicity, and a relaxation to dyn amic states with a stable effective dimensionality. The model offers a uniqu e arena in which to st udy the emergence of true geometric self-organization and may provide t he simplest approach to mod eling th e dynamics of th e many different varieties of rando m cellular structures found in nature.