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No six-cell neighborhood cellular automaton solves the parity problem

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Abstract
The parity problem is one of the best-known classification problems studied to examine the computational abilities of cellular automata. In this inverse problem, one is looking for a cellular automaton that can classify each initial configuration into one of two classes according to its parity. In the case of deterministic one-dimensional cellular automata, there exists a local rule that effectively solves the parity problem, but it is unknown whether it is the simplest possible rule. Specifically, it is known that a cellular automaton with a nine-cell neighborhood can solve the parity problem, whereas no cellular automaton with a five-cell neighborhood is capable of doing so. These findings have remained unimproved for the past 10 years. In this paper, we present novel tools that allow to narrow down the existing gap. With the help of these tools, we are able to demonstrate that there is no cellular automaton with a six-cell neighborhood capable of solving the parity problem.
Keywords
Cellular automata, Classification problems, Parity problem

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Nenca, Anna, et al. “No Six-Cell Neighborhood Cellular Automaton Solves the Parity Problem.” THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE, vol. 1021, 2024, doi:10.1016/j.tcs.2024.114923.
APA
Nenca, A., Wolnik, B., & De Baets, B. (2024). No six-cell neighborhood cellular automaton solves the parity problem. THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE, 1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcs.2024.114923
Chicago author-date
Nenca, Anna, Barbara Wolnik, and Bernard De Baets. 2024. “No Six-Cell Neighborhood Cellular Automaton Solves the Parity Problem.” THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE 1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcs.2024.114923.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Nenca, Anna, Barbara Wolnik, and Bernard De Baets. 2024. “No Six-Cell Neighborhood Cellular Automaton Solves the Parity Problem.” THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE 1021. doi:10.1016/j.tcs.2024.114923.
Vancouver
1.
Nenca A, Wolnik B, De Baets B. No six-cell neighborhood cellular automaton solves the parity problem. THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE. 2024;1021.
IEEE
[1]
A. Nenca, B. Wolnik, and B. De Baets, “No six-cell neighborhood cellular automaton solves the parity problem,” THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE, vol. 1021, 2024.
@article{01JCJFGP3JMBNQZKW7PWBHCHB2,
  abstract     = {{The parity problem is one of the best-known classification problems studied to examine the computational abilities of cellular automata. In this inverse problem, one is looking for a cellular automaton that can classify each initial configuration into one of two classes according to its parity. In the case of deterministic one-dimensional cellular automata, there exists a local rule that effectively solves the parity problem, but it is unknown whether it is the simplest possible rule. Specifically, it is known that a cellular automaton with a nine-cell neighborhood can solve the parity problem, whereas no cellular automaton with a five-cell neighborhood is capable of doing so. These findings have remained unimproved for the past 10 years. In this paper, we present novel tools that allow to narrow down the existing gap. With the help of these tools, we are able to demonstrate that there is no cellular automaton with a six-cell neighborhood capable of solving the parity problem.}},
  articleno    = {{114923}},
  author       = {{Nenca, Anna and Wolnik, Barbara and De Baets, Bernard}},
  issn         = {{0304-3975}},
  journal      = {{THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE}},
  keywords     = {{Cellular automata,Classification problems,Parity problem}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{13}},
  title        = {{No six-cell neighborhood cellular automaton solves the parity problem}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcs.2024.114923}},
  volume       = {{1021}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

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