COLLECTIVE EFFECTS IN NETWORKS OF NEGATRON ELEMENTS

Results are presented from numerical simulations and experimental stud ies of a network system consisting of elements with negative different ial resistance (negatrons). It is shown that systems of this type have valuable functional characteristics owing to a cooperative interactio n of the elements and can be used to create information systems for pa ttern analysis and recognition. A variational principle is introduced which uses the macroscopic positions to determine the direction of evo lution of the state of the network under the influence of applied sign als. The possibility of integrating negatron networks into engineering systems may eventually lead to the creation of new materials of the s ynergetic type for use in electronic technology. (C) 1998 American Ins titute of Physics. [S1063-7842(98)00105-6].