1/ f α spectra in elementary cellular automata and fractal signals
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/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
α
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.