by Mária Vicsek (Inst. of Automation, Budapest) & Tamás Vicsek (Eötvös Univ., Budapest)

The rich variety of complicated patterns in nature can be successfully modelled by simple fractal growth models which capture the essential physics behind the associated phenomena. Computer simulations of such aggregation models play an important role in our understanding of far-from-equilibrium growth processes.

Designed to complement Tamas Vicsek's best-selling text on Fractal Growth Phenomena, this software contains twelve programs which are ideal for demonstrating on IBM XT/AT and compatible personal computers with major video standards (CGA, Hercules, EGA and VGA); how aggregation phenomena may lead to objects with non-integer dimensionality. Important features are: (i) the programs are menu driven and a short description of each type of phenomena (ballistic aggregation, Eden growth, diffusion-limited aggregation and local growth models) is readily accessible from the menu; (ii) Turbo Pascal source files are included so that the owner of the package can modify them in order to get further insight into the simulated growth processes.

This Fractal Growth software will be useful for physics, chemistry and biology students as well as researchers who wish to gain a deeper understanding of far-from-equilibrium growth phenomena through direct observation of the growth of physically motivated fractal patterns.