Document: SCL: An Artificial Chemistry in Swarm

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3.1 Space and Time

SCL implements the reaction scheme in a discrete, 2D, space with toroidal topology. Time is also discrete. The space is organised as a square lattice. The dynamics occur based on either the Moore (9-cell) or the von Neumann (5-cell) neighborhood (this is, to some extent, configurable). Each cell in the space is occupied by a particle object. There are 4 subclasses of particle objects, allowing for each of the three distinct chemical species and a ``hole'' particle class (denoted H). Bonds are also represented by objects of another separate class. Lists are maintained of all particles of each class, and of all bonds. The basic execution cycle of the model, for one timestep, is that each such list is traversed in turn, and each particle or bond is sent a step message. The effect of this message is, of course, class specific, but generally involves possible motion (by swapping position with an adjacent particle) followed by one or more possible reactions.

In the following more detailed descriptions, the particle which is actually executing its step method will be called the primary particle, to distinguish it from the neighboring, or secondary, particle(s) which it may interact with.



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Document: SCL: An Artificial Chemistry in Swarm

Copyright © 1997 All Rights Reserved.
Timestamp: Tue Dec 31 19:40:38 GMT 1996

mcmullin@eeng.dcu.ie