Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Morphology-Based Distinction Between Healthy and Pathological Cells Utilizing Fourier Transforms and Self-Organizing Maps
Published on: October 28, 2018
1/f(alpha) spectra in elementary cellular automata and fractal signals
Jan Nagler1, Jens Christian Claussen
1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee, D-28334 Bremen, Germany.
Abstract:
We systematically compute the power spectra of the one-dimensional elementary cellular automata introduced by Wolfram. On the one hand our analysis reveals that one automaton displays 1/f spectra though considered as trivial, and on the other hand that various automata classified as chaotic or complex display no 1/f spectra. We model the results generalizing the recently investigated Sierpinski signal to a class of fractal signals that are tailored to produce 1/f(alpha) spectra. From the widespread occurrence of (elementary) cellular automata patterns in chemistry, physics, and computer sciences, there are various candidates to show spectra similar to our results.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Spectroscopy: Absorption, Emission, and Fluorescence
Even and Odd Signals
Basic Discrete Time Signals
The unit impulse or sample sequence is mathematically expressed as zero for all n values except at n=0, where it is one. The unit impulse sequence, denoted by δ(n), is the first difference of the unit step sequence, while the unit step sequence u(n) is the...
Mass Spectrometry of Amines
¹H NMR: Interpreting Distorted and Overlapping Signals
As Δν decreases and the signals move closer, the doublets appear increasingly distorted. The intensities of the inner lines increase at the cost of those of the outer lines as the signals are slanted or...
Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

