Paper detail

Two lilypond systems of finite line-segments

The paper discusses two models for non-overlapping finite line-segments constructed via the lilypond protocol, operating here on a given array of points in the plane with which are associated directions. At time 0, each line-segment starts growing at unit rate around its center in the given direction; each line-segment, under Model 1, ceases growth when one of its ends hits another line, while under Model 2, its growth ceases either when one of its ends hits another line, or when it is hit by the growing end of some other line. The paper shows that these procedures are well-defined and gives constructive algorithms to compute the lengths of the segments. Moreover it specifies assumptions under which stochastic versions, i.e. models based on point processes, exist. Afterwards it deals with the question as to whether there is percolation in Model 1. The paper concludes with a section containing several conjectures and final remarks.