Cellular Automata in Statistical Mechanics

Cellular automata are computational models used to simulate complex systems in statistical mechanics. They consist of a grid of cells, each with a state (like "on" or "off"), which update according to simple rules based on neighboring cells. Despite their simplicity, cellular automata can produce diverse, unpredictable patterns that mimic real-world phenomena such as fluid flow, crystal growth, or gas behaviors. They help researchers understand how local interactions lead to global patterns and emergent behavior in many-body systems, bridging microscopic rules and macroscopic properties.