Langtons

Langtons refers to Chris Langton, a prominent computer scientist known for his work in the field of artificial life (ALife). More specifically, it commonly designates concepts and models associated with his work, particularly:

• Langton's ant: A two-dimensional universal Turing machine with very simple rules but complex emergent behavior. The ant moves on a grid of cells that are either black or white. The rules specify how the ant should move and change the color of the cell it is currently on, depending on the cell's current color. These simple rules produce surprisingly intricate and unpredictable patterns, demonstrating how complex behavior can arise from simple rules.
• Langton's loops: A type of self-replicating loop or cellular automaton, considered one of the earliest examples of artificial life exhibiting self-replication. Langton's loops are configurations of cells within a cellular automaton grid that can reproduce themselves, demonstrating a fundamental characteristic of living systems.
• Langton's edge of chaos: A hypothesis suggesting that the most complex and interesting behavior arises in systems that are poised between order and disorder, or at the "edge of chaos." Langton argued that systems at this edge are more likely to be adaptable and evolve, making them suitable for generating complex and life-like behaviors. This idea has been influential in the field of artificial life and complex systems research.
• Other contributions to Artificial Life: Beyond the specific concepts above, "Langtons" can broadly refer to Chris Langton's significant contributions to the field of Artificial Life, including his theoretical frameworks, his role in organizing early ALife conferences, and his general advocacy for the study of emergent behavior and complex systems.