Statistical equilibrium in deterministic cellular automata

Abstract

Some deterministic cellular automata have been observed to follow the pattern of the second law of thermodynamics: starting from a partially disordered state, the system evolves towards a state of equilibrium characterized by maximal disorder. This chapter is an exposition of this phenomenon and of a statistical scheme for its explanation. The formulation is in the same vein as Boltzmann's ideas, but the simple combinatorial setup offers clarification and hope for generic mathematically rigorous results. Probabilities represent frequencies and subjective interpretations are avoided.