OSCILLON
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2443 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
A very simple oscillating pattern obtained by vibrating a thin layer of sand grains.
The oscillon was discovered by Paul UMBANBOWAR, Francisco MELO and Harry SWINNEY (Univ. of Texas at Austin).
It seems to be the very fundamental self-organizing pattern obtained by energy dissipation and leading to structuration .
Oscillons, according to SWEENEY, “can join together to form chains, triangular associations and even extended lattices - and all are stable”. (as quoted by Marcus CHOWN, 1997).
CHOWN adds: “The square lattice (would be) simply the lowest-energy configuration of an even mix of attracting and repelling particles… (as in) an antiferromagnetic lattice (in which) each positively charged particle is surrounded by four negatively charged particles in a square lattice ” and, … “By contrast, the lowest energy configuration of like-charged objects is a hexagonal lattice ”. (p.37)
See also
Hexagonal space filling, Order parameter, Soliton, Structure (Dissipative), Symmetry (Hexagonal), Vortex