Chaotic Dynamical Systems
Central Themes
Fall 1999
- Simple, deterministic systems can produce random
behavior. Example: logistic equation.
- Complicated, large systems can have relatively simple dynamics.
Example: Random boolean networks with K=2 have only sqrt(N)
attractors.
- Fractals can be produced by deterministic and stochastic systems.
Examples: making snowflakes via a deterministic rule; flipping
coins to build a Sierpinsky triangle.
- Mathematical models are sometimes not used for prediction, but
instead to gain a qualitative feel for a system.
- Universality. Some features of dynamical systems are universal.
These features as quantitatively the same for lots of different
dynamical systems and can (and have) been measured experimentally.
- The mathematics of dynamical systems comes in many different
forms, flavors, and styles.
[Dave]
[Chaotic
Dynamics]
[COA]
Web page maintained by dave@hornacek.coa.edu.