Periodic catalyst
A periodic catalyst is an oscillator that can act as a catalyst. An example of a periodic catalyst is toad, which can catalyse an octomino 2 like so:
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If, in the interaction between an active object and an oscillator, only the sparks of the oscillator (if any) are directly influencing the birth and/or death of the active object's cells, then the oscillator cannot be called a periodic catalyst.
Sometimes, custom period-3 or period-4 catalysts are found using a search program to complete an oscillator, as shown in this p69 pi-heptomino hassler.
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The term "periodic catalyst" can also refer to a catalyst which uses an oscillator that restores a transparent still life, rather than interacting with an active object, like with this pattern:
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Some periodic catalysts can also function as stable catalysts: an example of this is Coe's p8 being used to convert a beehive to a block. This trick is exploited in p8 glider reflector and the HRx74B converter.
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See also
- Toad reaction
- Monogram, Antiphase why bother, traffic stop, p8 glider reflector, 42P38, killer toads, killer candlefrobras - for more examples of oscillators acting as catalysts