State Transition Dynamics: Basic Concepts and Molecular Computing Perspectives

Abstract

Classical dynamics concepts are analysed in the basic mathematical setting of state transition systems where time and space are both completely discrete and no structure is assumed on the state’s space. Interesting relationships between attractors and recurrence are identified and some features of chaos are expressed in simple, set theoretic terms. String dynamics is proposed as a unifying concept for dynamical systems arising from discrete models of computation, together with illustrative examples. The relevance of state transition systems and string dynamics is discussed from the perspective of molecular computing.