Phi spark

Phi spark
x = 5, y = 4, rule = B3/S23 b3o$o3bo$o3bo$b3o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ THUMBNAIL THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GPS 3 LOOP 24 ZOOM 32 PAUSE 2 AUTOSTART ]]
View static image
Pattern type	Spark
Number of cells	10
Bounding box	5 × 4
Static symmetry	Unspecified
Discovered by	Unknown
Year of discovery	1970
Pattern files Plaintext phispark.cells RLE phispark.rle

A phi spark is a commonly seen (for example, during the evolution of a Herschel) large symmetric spark that dies in 9 generations. It gains its name from resemblance of its generation 1 to a Greek capital letter phi (Φ).

The pentadecathlon splits into two phi sparks during its cycle for the span of five generations; their central halves regenerate the oscillator, while the outer halves die as usual.

	A phi spark.
	Generation 1 reveals the origin of the name.
	A triangle is a common parent of the phi spark.
	A 7-cell pattern arising from a Herschel, which becomes a phi spark in 8 generations (a triangle in 7).

Phi sparks can interact with gliders.

x = 45, y = 18, rule = B3/S23 16b3o$15bo3bo$15bo3bo$16b3o3$2bo11b2o7bo20bo$2o10bo4bo3b2o12b2o5b2o$b 2o9bo4bo4b2o9bo4bo4b2o$12bo4bo15bo4bo$14b2o17bo4bo$35b2o2$b3o$o3bo32b 3o$o3bo31bo3bo$b3o32bo3bo$37b3o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ AUTOSTART GPS 3 LOOP 12 ZOOM 12 THUMBSIZE 2 PAUSE 2 T 11 PAUSE 2 HEIGHT 480 WIDTH 600 ]]

(click above to open LifeViewer) RLE: here Plaintext: here

While most phi sparks have a triangle as a parent, there are other parents. The second most common parent is below. A 2×5 rectangle also becomes a phi spark in one generation, but its natural occurrence is uncommon.

b2o$ob2o$5o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ GPS 4 THUMBSIZE 2 ]]

Another phi spark parent (click above to open LifeViewer)

As an induction coil

Some natural period-2 oscillators have generation 0 of the phi spark with the three-cell leading edge on each side stabilized by various objects. The center oscillates with period 2 in a similar manner to a spark coil or test tube baby.

9b2o$8bobo$2o2b2o2bo$o2bo2bobobo$bobo2bo2b2o$2obo2bo$4b2o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ GPS 4 THUMBSIZE 2 ]]

An example of the paragraph above (click above to open LifeViewer)

See also

• 22P36
• Table
• Tanner's p46, which emits phi sparks

External links

• Phi spark at the Life Lexicon