Cellular automata as emergent systems and models of physical behavior

Cellular automata provide a basic model for complex systems generated by simplistic rulesets. While each step in a simulation is dominated by local interactions, over time complex macroscopic behavior can emerge. Observation of this long-term emergent behavior due to simple, easily understood and computationally efficient rules has led to attempts to model physical systems within the framework of simple cellular automata. This paper aims to briefly review the behavior and properties of cellular automata, provide some specific examples of CA models for physical systems, and point out the advantages and disadvantages of approaching a problem with a CA-based simulation.