Phi-sparker

A phi-sparker is a sparker that emits phi sparks. These are desirable because phi sparks have uses, for example reflecting gliders.

x=15, y = 7, rule = B3/S23 obo$b2o9bo$bo10bo$12bo$13b2o2$12bo! [[ THEME 6 GRID THUMBNAIL THUMBSIZE 2 ]]

This is the mechanism by which a single pentadecathlon can reflect a glider, such as in the p60 glider shuttle. However, while the pentadecathlon provides a T-nosed spark followed by a V spark in the same manner as a phi spark, not all interactions with a phi spark would work with a pentadecathlon (at least not without destroying the pentadecathlon), so the pentadecathlon is only a moderate phi-sparker. An example of a strong phi-sparker is Tanner's p46. Like other phi-sparkers, it can reflect gliders.

x=37, y = 26, rule = B3/S23 26b2o$26bo$bo25bo$2bo23b2o$3o$33b2o$33bo$34bo$33b2o$25b2o$25b2o6b2o$24b o7bobo$25b2o6bo$25b2o7b3o$36bo7$25b2o$25b2o2b2o$29bobo$31bo$31b2o! [[ THEME 6 GRID THUMBNAIL THUMBSIZE 2 ]]

In addition, it can engage in interactions that perturb a phi spark in a way that would destroy a pentadecathlon, such as in the p46 gliderless MWSS gun.

x=22, y = 10, rule = B3/S23 16bo$b2o6b2o5bo$o2bo4bo2bo3bo$o2bo4bo2bo$o2bo4bo2bo3b5o$b2o6b2o5bobob 2o$15b2o$17b2o$17bo$16b2ob2o! [[ THEME 6 GRID THUMBNAIL THUMBSIZE 2 ]]

Phi sparkers are occasionally used for domino sparks that are included in the phi spark.

See also

• T-nosed sparker
• V spark