Longest Lasting *WSS/Glider Collision

[knightlife]

This collision between a glider and a HWSS lasts 11452 generations, which seems very long:



Final population: 1266

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 11, rule = B3/S23
8bo$7bo$7b3o4$2b2o$o4bo$6bo$o5bo$b6o!

Max population is 1599 at generation 10523.

[HartmutHolzwart]

Is there a catalog of *WSS-glider collisions? how many different collisions are there?

[Extrementhusiast]

...I'm speechless, except for this message of course.

[knightlife]

Somebody must have gone through the possibilities, I am surprised I have not seen a catalog (given the fantastic catalogs already available).
I estimate the number of collisions is around 650 based on a python script I use for collisions. The script does not attempt to count anything but I can see that there are only about 12 to 15 tracks that a glider can be on that produce a collision from a given direction (even for HWSS). Using 15 as a very conservative estimate, there are roughly 15(4 glider phases)(4 glider directions)(3 types of *WSS) = 720 possibilities. The results of the collisions do overlap quite a bit with a lot of small still lifes, R-pentominoes and such. I am tempted to catalog this myself if no one has it. The trouble is in sorting out and displaying the messes!