This introductory text to the class of Sequential Dynamical Systems
(SDS) is the first textbook on this timely subject. SDSs are a class of
discrete dynamical systems which are a significant generalization of
cellular automata and provide a new general theory of discrete computer
simulations. Driven by numerous examples and thought-provoking problems
throughout, the presentation offers good foundational material on finite
discrete dynamical systems, which then leads systematically to an
introduction of SDS.
Starting from a broad range of topics on structure theory, thereafter
SDS relations to graph theory, classical dynamical systems as well as
SDS applications in computer science are explored. This is a versatile
interdisciplinary textbook relevant to applied mathematicians and
computer scientists alike.