DEVIL'S STAIRCASE
Charles François (2004). DEVIL'S STAIRCASE, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 907.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 907 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
A discontinuous mathematical curve characterized by many steps , some small or very small and some large or very large.
This curve was introduced by the German mathematician Georg CANTOR (1843-1918). It was considered for long time a paradoxical and imaginary invention.
However, P. BAK uses it now in his self-organized critical evolution model for an approximate representation of punctuated equilibrium , as a description of discontinuous mutation jumps in evolution , some small and frequent, some others big, but very unfrequent.