All issues

The generalization of Margolus’s block cellular automaton on a hexagonal grid is formulated. Statistical analysis of the results of probabilistic cellular automation for vast variety of this scheme solving the test task of diffusion is done. It is shown that the choice of the hexagon blocks is 25% more efficient than Y-blocks. It is shown that the algorithms have polynomial complexity, and the polynom degree lies within 0.6÷0.8 for parallel computer, and in the range 1.5÷1.7 for serial computer. The effects of embedded into automaton’s field defective cells on the rate of convergence are studied also.

The second part of paper is devoted to final study of three classic partial differential equations (Laplace, Diffusion and Wave) solution using simple numerical methods in terms of Cellular Automata. Specificity of this solution has been shown by different examples, which are related to the hexagonal grid. Also the next statements that are mentioned in the first part have been proved: the matter conservation law and the offensive effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry.

From the point of CA view diffusion equation is the most important. While solving of diffusion equation at the infinite time interval we can find solution of boundary value problem of Laplace equation and if we introduce vector-variable we will solve wave equation (at least, for scalar). The critical requirement for the sampling of the boundary conditions for CA-cells has been shown during the solving of problem of circular membrane vibrations with Neumann boundary conditions. CA-calculations using the simple scheme and Margolus rotary-block mechanism were compared for the quasione-dimensional problem “diffusion in the half-space”. During the solving of mixed task of circular membrane vibration with the fixed ends in a classical case it has been shown that the simultaneous application of the Crank–Nicholson method and taking into account of the second-order terms is allowed to avoid the effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry that was studied for a simple scheme.

By the example of the centrally symmetric Neumann problem a new method of spatial derivatives introducing into the postfix CA procedure, which is reflecting the time derivatives (on the base of the continuity equation) was demonstrated. The value of the constant that is related to these derivatives has been empirically found in the case of central symmetry. The low rate of convergence and accuracy that limited within the boundaries of the sample, in contrary to the formal precision of the method (4-th order), prevents the using of the CAmethods for such problems. We recommend using multigrid method. During the solving of the quasi-diffusion equations (two-dimensional CA) it was showing that the rotary-block mechanism of CA (Margolus mechanism) is more effective than simple CA.

The paper contains the analysis of the domestic publications issued in 2013–2017 years and devoted to cellular automata. The most of them concern on mathematical modeling. Scientometric schedules for 1990–2017 years have proved relevance of subject. The review allows to allocate the main personalities and the scientific directions/schools in modern Russian science, to reveal their originality or secondness in comparison with world science. Due to the authors choice of national publications basis instead of world, the paper claims the completeness and the fact is that about 200 items from the checked 526 references have an importance for science.

In the Annex to the review provides preliminary information about CA — the Game of Life, a theorem about gardens of Eden, elementary CAs (together with the diagram of de Brujin), block Margolus’s CAs, alternating CAs. Attention is paid to three important for modeling semantic traditions of von Neumann, Zuse and Zetlin, as well as to the relationship with the concepts of neural networks and Petri nets. It is allocated conditional 10 works, which should be familiar to any specialist in CA. Some important works of the 1990s and later are listed in the Introduction.

Then the crowd of publications is divided into categories: the modification of the CA and other network models (29 %), Mathematical properties of the CA and the connection with mathematics (5 %), Hardware implementation (3 %), Software implementation (5 %), Data Processing, recognition and Cryptography (8 %), Mechanics, physics and chemistry (20 %), Biology, ecology and medicine (15 %), Economics, urban studies and sociology (15 %). In parentheses the share of subjects in the array are indicated. There is an increase in publications on CA in the humanitarian sphere, as well as the emergence of hybrid approaches, leading away from the classic CA definition.