Plasma fractals is a technique to generate random and realistic clouds, textures and terrains~-- traditionally using recursive subdivision. We demonstrate a new approach, based on iterative expansion. It gives a family of algorithms that includes the standard square-diamond algorithm and offers various interesting ways of extending it, and hence generating nicer pictures. The approach came about from exploring plasma fractals from the point of view of an array language (which we implemented as an embedded DSL in OCaml)~-- that is, from the perspective of declaring whole image transformations rather than fiddling with individual pixels.

翻译：等离子分形是一种产生随机和现实云、质地和地形的技术。 传统上, 我们用递归的亚形来显示一种基于迭代扩展的新方法。 它提供一系列算法, 其中包括标准的平面算法, 并提供各种有趣的扩展方法, 从而产生更美的图片。 这个方法来自从一种阵列语言的角度探索等离子分形( 我们在OCaml 中作为嵌入的 DSL ) ~ - 也就是说, 从声明整个图像转换的角度, 而不是与单个像素混在一起 。