Let M=Z^D be a D-dimensional lattice, and let A be an abelian group. A^M is then a compact abelian group; a `linear cellular automaton' (LCA) is a topological group endomorphism Φ:A^M --> A^M that commutes with all shift maps.
Suppose μis a probability measure on A^M whose support is a subshift of finite type or sofic shift. We provide sufficient conditions (on Φand μ) under which Φ`asymptotically randomizes' μ, meaning that wk*lim_{J\ni j --> oo} Φ^j μ= η, where ηis the Haar measure on A^M, and J has Cesaro density 1. In the case when Φ=1+σ, we provide a condition on μthat is both necessary and sufficient. We then use this to construct an example of a zero-entropy measure which is asymptotically randomized by 1+σ(all previously known examples had positive entropy).
For any infinite transitive sofic shift $X$ we construct a reversible cellular automaton (i.e. an automorphism of the shift $X$) which breaks any given finite point of the subshift into a finite collection of gliders traveling into opposing directions. This shows in addition that every infinite transitive sofic shift has a reversible CA which is sensitive with respect to all directions. As another application we prove a finitary Ryan's theorem: the automorphism group aut$(X)$ contains a two-element subset whose centralizer consists only of shift maps. We also show that in the class of $S$-gap …
We study limit sets of stable cellular automata standing from a symbolic dynamics point of view where they are a special case of sofic shifts admitting a steady epimorphism. We prove that there exists a right-closing almost-everywhere steady factor map from one irreducible sofic shift onto another one if and only if there exists such a map from the domain onto the minimal right-resolving cover of the image. We define right-continuing almost-everywhere steady maps and prove that there exists such a steady map between two sofic shifts if and only if there exists a factor map from the domain onto…
We consider the range of possible dynamics of cellular automata (CA) on two-sided beta-shifts $S_β$. We show that any reversible CA $F:S_β\to S_β$ has an almost equicontinuous direction whenever $S_β$ is not sofic. This has the corollary that non-sofic beta-shifts are topologically direct prime. We also make some preliminary observations on direct topological factorizations of beta-shifts that are subshifts of finite type.
We address the dynamics of the cellular automaton (CA) that multiplies by $p/q$ in base $pq$ (for coprime $p>q>1$) by studying its trace subshift. We present a conjugacy of the trace to a previously studied base-$p/q$ numeration system. We also show that the trace subshift is not synchronizing and in particular not sofic. As a byproduct we compute its complexity function and we conclude by presenting an example of a sofic shift with the same complexity function.
We present a new sufficient criterion to prove that a non-sofic half-synchronized subshift is direct prime. The criterion is based on conjugacy invariant properties of Fischer graphs of half-synchronized shifts. We use this criterion to show as a new result that all n-Dyck shifts are direct prime, and we also give new proofs of direct primeness of non-sofic beta-shifts and non-sofic S-gap shifts. We also construct a class of non-sofic synchronized direct prime subshifts which additionally admit reversible cellular automata with all directions sensitive.
If A=Z/2, then A^Z is a compact abelian group. A `linear cellular automaton' is a shift-commuting endomorphism F of A^Z. If P is a probability measure on A^Z, then F `asymptotically randomizes' P if F^j P converges to the Haar measure as j-->oo, for j in a subset of Cesaro density one. Via counterexamples, we show that nonzero entropy of P is neither necessary nor sufficient for asymptotic randomization.
We show that a cellular automaton on a one-dimensional two-sided mixing subshift of finite type is a von Neumann regular element in the semigroup of cellular automata if and only if it is split epic onto its image in the category of sofic shifts and block maps. It follows from previous joint work of the author and Törmä that von Neumann regularity is a decidable condition, and we decide it for all elementary CA, obtaining the optimal radii for weak generalized inverses. Two sufficient conditions for non-regularity are having a proper sofic image or having a point in the image with no preimage …
Sofic shifts are symbolic dynamical systems defined by the set of bi-infinite sequences on an edge-labeled directed graph, called a presentation. We study the computational complexity of an array of natural decision problems about presentations of sofic shifts, such as whether a given graph presents a shift of finite type, or an irreducible shift; whether one graph presents a subshift of another; and whether a given presentation is minimal, or has a synchronizing word. Leveraging connections to automata theory, we first observe that these problems are all decidable in polynomial time when the …
Abelian cellular automata (CA) are CA which are group endomorphisms of the full group shift when endowing the alphabet with an abelian group structure. A CA randomizes an initial probability measure if its iterated images weak *-converge towards the uniform Bernoulli measure (the Haar measure in this setting). We are interested in structural phenomena, i.e. randomization for a wide class of initial measures (under some mixing hypotheses). First, we prove that an abelian CA randomizes in Ces{à}ro mean if and only if it has no soliton, i.e. a finite configuration whose time evolution remains bou…
We consider continuous, translation-commuting transformations of compact, translation-invariant families of mappingsfrom finitely generated groups into finite alphabets. It is well-known that such transformations and spaces can be described "locally" via families of patterns and finitary functions; such descriptions can be re-used on groups larger than the original, usually defining non-isomorphic structures. We show how some of the properties of the "induced" entities can be deduced from those of the original ones, and vice versa; then, we show how to "simulate" the smaller structure into the…
A $λ$-graph system is a labeled Bratteli diagram with some additional structure, which presents a subshift and yields a $C^*$-algebra. In this paper, we construct a $λ$-graph system from a pushdown automaton, such that the accepted language by the automaton coincides with the language of admissible words of the presented subshift by the $λ$-graph system. The $λ$-graph systems for pushdown automata accepting the languages of Markov-Dyck shifts and sofic-Dyck shifts are presented.
We show that a cellular automaton on a mixing subshift of finite type is a Von Neumann regular element in the semigroup of cellular automata if and only if it is split epic onto its image in the category of sofic shifts and block maps. It follows from [S.-Törmä, 2015] that Von Neumann regularity is decidable condition, and we decide it for all elementary CA.
Let $G$ be a group. Let $X$ be a connected algebraic group over an algebraically closed field $K$. Denote by $A=X(K)$ the set of $K$-points of $X$. We study a class of endomorphisms of pro-algebraic groups, namely algebraic group cellular automata over $(G,X,K)$. They are cellular automata $τ\colon A^G \to A^G$ whose local defining map is induced by a homomorphism of algebraic groups $X^M \to X$ where $M\subset G$ is a finite memory set of $τ$. Our first result is that when $G$ is sofic, such an algebraic group cellular automaton $τ$ is invertible whenever it is injective and $\text{char}(K)=0…
This chapter presents some of the links between automata theory and symbolic dynamics. The emphasis is on two particular points. The first one is the interplay between some particular classes of automata, such as local automata and results on embeddings of shifts of finite type. The second one is the connection between syntactic semigroups and the classification of sofic shifts up to conjugacy.
We study expansions in non-integer negative base -β introduced by Ito and Sadahiro. Using countable automata associated with (-β)-expansions, we characterize the case where the (-β)-shift is a system of finite type. We prove that, if β is a Pisot number, then the (-β)-shift is a sofic system. In that case, addition (and more generally normalization on any alphabet) is realizable by a finite transducer. We then give an on-line algorithm for the conversion from positive base β to negative base -β. When β is a Pisot number, the conversion can be realized by a finite on-line transducer.
We study the geometric properties of Cantor subshifts in the Besicovitch space, proving that sofic shifts occupy exactly the homotopy classes of simplicial complexes. In addition, we study canonical projections into subshifts, characterize the cellular automata that are contracting or isometric in the Besicovitch or Weyl spaces, study continuous functions that locally look like cellular automata, and present a new proof for the nonexistence of transitive cellular automata in the Besicovitch space.
We show that the automorphism group of a one-dimensional full shift (the group of reversible cellular automata) does not satisfy the Tits alternative. That is, we construct a finitely-generated subgroup which is not virtually solvable yet does not contain a free group on two generators. We give constructions both in the two-sided case (spatially acting group $\Z$) and the one-sided case (spatially acting monoid $\N$, alphabet size at least eight). Lack of Tits alternative follows for several groups of symbolic (dynamical) origin: automorphism groups of two-sided one-dimensional uncountable sof…
We study the density of periodic configurations for shift spaces defined on (the Cayley graph of) a finitely generated group. We prove that in the case of a full shift on a residually finite group and in that of a group shift space on an abelian group, the periodic configurations are dense. In the one-dimensional case we prove the density for irreducible sofic shifts. In connection with this we study the surjunctivity of cellular automata and local selfmappings. Some related decision problems for shift spaces of finite type are also investigated.
Let $G$ be a group. Let $X$ be an algebraic group over an algebraically closed field $K$. Denote by $A=X(K)$ the set of rational points of $X$. We study algebraic group cellular automata $τ\colon A^G \to A^G$ whose local defining map is induced by a homomorphism of algebraic groups $X^M \to X$ where $M$ is a finite memory. When $G$ is sofic and $K$ is uncountable, we show that if $τ$ is post-surjective then it is weakly pre-injective. Our result extends the dual version of Gottschalk's Conjecture for finite alphabets proposed by Capobianco, Kari, and Taati. When $G$ is amenable, we prove that …
Reversible cellular automata are seen as microscopic physical models, and their states of macroscopic equilibrium are described using invariant probability measures. We establish a connection between the invariance of Gibbs measures and the conservation of additive quantities in surjective cellular automata. Namely, we show that the simplex of shift-invariant Gibbs measures associated to a Hamiltonian is invariant under a surjective cellular automaton if and only if the cellular automaton conserves the Hamiltonian. A special case is the (well-known) invariance of the uniform Bernoulli measure …
We study an abstract group of reversible Turing machines. In our model, each machine is interpreted as a homeomorphism over a space which represents a tape filled with symbols and a head carrying a state. These homeomorphisms can only modify the tape at a bounded distance around the head, change the state and move the head in a bounded way. We study three natural subgroups arising in this model: the group of finite-state automata, which generalizes the topological full groups studied in topological dynamics and the theory of orbit-equivalence; the group of oblivious Turing machines whose movem…
