Non linear dynamical systems

Unit 1

Introduction: examples of dynamical systems, driven damped pendulum, ball on oscillating floor,
dripping faucet, chaotic electrical circuits. One-dimensional maps: the logistic map, bifurcations in
the logistic map, fixed points and their stability, other one-dimensional maps.

Unit 2

Non-chaotic multidimensional flows: the logistic differential equation, driven damped harmonic
oscillator, Van der Pol equation, numerical solution of differential equations.

Dynamical systems theory: two-dimensional equilibrium and their stability, saddle points, are
contraction and expansion, non-chaotic three-dimensional attractors, stability of two-dimensional
maps, chaotic dissipative flows.

Unit 3

Lyapunov exponents: for one- and two-dimensional maps and flows, for threedimensional flows,
numerical calculation of largest Lyapunov exponent, Lyapunov exponent spectrum and general
characteristics, Kaplan-Yorke dimension, numerical precautions. Bifurcations: in one-dimensional
maps and flows, Hopf bifurcations, homoclinic and heteroclinic bifurcations, crises. Hamiltonian
chaos: Hamilton’s equations and properties of Hamiltonian systems, examples, three-dimensional
conservative flows, symplectic maps.

Unit 4

Time-series properties: examples, conventional linear methods, a case study, timedelay embeddings.
Nonlinear prediction and noise-reduction: linear predictors, state-space prediction, noise reduction,
Lyapunov exponents from experimental data, false nearest neighbours.

Unit 5

Fractals: Cantor sets, curves, trees, gaskets, sponges, landscapes. Calculations of fractal dimension:
similarity, capacity and correlation dimensions, entropy, BDS statistic, minimum mutual information,
practical considerations. Fractal measure and multifractals: convergence of the correlation
dimension, multifractals, examples and numerical calculation of generalized dimensions. Non-
chaotic fractal sets: affine transformations, iterated functions systems, Mandelbrot and Julia sets.
Spatiotemporal chaos and complexity: examples, cellular automata, coupled map lattices, self-
organized criticality.

Text Books

Hilborn, R. C., Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 2000

Reference books

Sprott, J. C., Chaos and Time Series Analysis, Oxford University Press, 2003

Strogatz, S. H., Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, Westview Press, 2001

Solari, H. G., Natiello, M. A., and Mindlin, G. B., Nonlinear Dynamics, Overseas Press (India) Private
Limited, 2005