The semi-quantum game of life

Abstract

Conway's classic game of life is a two-dimensional cellular automaton in which each cell, either alive or dead, evolves according to rules based on its local environment. The semi-quantum game of life (SQGOL) is an adaptation in which each cell is in a superposed state of both dead and alive and evolves according to modified rules. Computer simulation of the SQGOL reveals remarkable complexity and previously unseen game behaviors. Systems evolve to a "quantum cloud" with a liveness distribution of mean $<\!a\!>=0.3480\pm0.0001$ and standard deviation $\sigma =0.0071$ which is dependent solely on the evolutionary rules. Transient lifeforms emerge from the cloud. Semi-quantum still-lifes are discovered including the qutub which contains 4 live cells and 4 semi-quantum cells. A solitary qutub placed in an otherwise empty universe may act as a seed to reproduce child qutubs, one or more classical and/or semi-quantum lifeforms, oscillators, a quantum cloud or death depending on the initial state. Evolution to the quantum cloud occurs chaotically with floating-point errors providing the butterfly effect. Evolutionary outcomes scale in a fractal-like manner.