Abstract

Physical systems maintained far from equilibrium exhibit self-organization of structure and behavior. These dissipative structures can exhibit life-like qualities and activities, such as collective and coordinated behaviors. We review such collective behaviors in electrical and chemical dissipative structures. Electrical dissipative structures can functionally coordinate their behaviors to maximize the rate of entropy production. Coupled oscillating electrical dissipative structures exhibit in-phase and anti-phase coordinative modes characteristic of biological coupled oscillators. Chemical swimmers form collective flocks with emergent properties, including sensitivities to magnetic and thermal fields, and rudimentary navigational capabilities. We review previously published work on electrical and chemical dissipative structures in the context of functional coordination. We also present a novel study of the functional coordination within the electrical dissipative structure. These collective behaviors are enabled by coupling of dissipative entities through diffuse energetic fields. We propose that the causal structure of the physics underlying these collective phenomena may be the same as that supporting coordination between organisms. We draw analogies between thermodynamic forces and flows driving the non-living dissipative structures and the perception–action mutuality which supports biological behavior.

摘要

保持远离平衡状态的物理系统表现出结构和行为的自组织。这些耗散结构可以表现出逼真的品质和活动，例如集体和协调的行为。我们回顾了电和化学耗散结构中的这种集体行为。电耗散结构可以在功能上协调其行为，以最大程度地提高熵产生的速率。耦合振荡的电耗散结构表现出生物耦合振荡器的同相和反相协调模式。化学游泳者形成具有新兴特性的集体群，包括对磁场和热场的敏感性以及基本的航行能力。我们在功能协调的背景下回顾了以前发表的有关电气和化学耗散结构的工作。我们还提出了耗散结构内功能协调的新研究。通过耗散的实体通过散布的高能场耦合来实现这些集体行为。我们建议，基于这些集体现象的物理学的因果结构可能与支持有机体之间的协调的因果结构相同。我们在驱动非生命耗散结构的热力学力和流动与支持生物学行为的知觉-行为相互作用之间进行类比。通过耗散的实体通过散布的高能场耦合来实现这些集体行为。我们建议，基于这些集体现象的物理学的因果结构可能与支持有机体之间的协调的因果结构相同。我们在驱动非生命耗散结构的热力学力和流动与支持生物学行为的知觉-行为相互作用之间进行类比。通过耗散的实体通过散布的高能场耦合来实现这些集体行为。我们建议，基于这些集体现象的物理学的因果结构可能与支持有机体之间的协调的因果结构相同。我们在驱动非生命耗散结构的热力学力和流动与支持生物学行为的知觉-行为相互作用之间进行类比。