Complexity from simplicity

The motto of these pages is complexity which arises from very simple rules.

Complexity can unfold in the time domain as well as in space. An example for complexity in the time domain is the behaviour of physical systems governed by very simple, but non-linear, equations. These describe how the system develops over time. Typically, the "simple", regular solutions to these equations are outnumbered by very complicated solutions exhibiting quasi periodic and chaotic behaviour. Go to the Nonlinear Mappings page to explore.

Cellular automata, thoroughly investigated by Stephen Wolfram in his "A new Kind of Science" are discrete variants of time dependent complex systems.

Complexity in the space domain is exhibited by fractal structures like the Sierpinski Gasket, Penrose tilings or also by tensegrity structures, in which simple sticks and strings combine to form quite intricate objects (here "complex" is used more in the sense of complicated and interesting, rather than in its technical meaning).

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