Twin prime calculator
The twin prime calculator is a pattern that was constructed by Dean Hickerson on September 9, 1994 that produces a stream of lightweight spaceships representing twin prime numbers (except for the pair (3, 5)). In particular, N and N+2 are both prime if and only if a lightweight spaceship escapes past the gun at the bottom-left corner at about generation 120N+540.[1][2] It works by attaching a period 240 glider gun to the bottom-left corner of Hickerson's original prime number calculator, primer, which allows a lightweight spaceship to pass by it if and only if another lightweight spaceship tried to pass by 240 generations earlier.
Twin prime calculator | |||||||
| |||||||
View static image | |||||||
Pattern type | Miscellaneous | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of cells | 3062 | ||||||
Bounding box | 440×294 | ||||||
Discovered by | Dean Hickerson | ||||||
Year of discovery | 1994 | ||||||
|
By having various guns pointed at the output stream of of primer, it is possible to similarly construct various other prime-generating patterns. For example, a prime quadruplet calculator and a cousin prime calculator have both been constructed.[3]
Videos
See also
References
- Jason Summers' pattern collections. Retrieved on July 28, 2009.
- twinprimes.rle from Golly's built-in pattern catalogue. Retrieved on July 28, 2009.
- Nathaniel Johnston. "Prime quadruplet calculator". ConwayLife.com forums. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.