CHAOS

Strange Attractors and Lorenz

Equations
Definitions
• Chaos – study of dynamical systems (non-periodic
systems in motion) usually over time

• Attractor – a set of points in phase space toward

which neighboring points asymptotically
approach within a basin of attraction

- an attractor can be a point, curve, manifold

or a complicated set of fractals known as a strange
attractor
 Definitions & Applications of
Attractors
• Strange Attractor – an attractor that exhibits
sensitive dependence on initial
conditions; they usually have fractal structure
(infinite detail).

– There are several types of strange attractors including:

• Chua – used in electronic circuitry.
• Duffing – used in nonlinear oscillators.
• Rössler – used in chemical kinetics.
• Ikeda – involved in the turbulence of trails of smoke.
• Lorenz – used in atmospheric convection.
Applications of Attractors

Chua Duffing Lorenz

Rössler Ikeda
Edward Lorenz
• an American mathematician and
meteorologist, and is the first
contributor to the chaos theory
and inventor of the strange
attractor notion in 1963.
• Discovered that minute variations
in initial weather parameters led
to grossly divergent weather
patterns
• Coined the term “butterfly effect”
Lorenz Attractor

• The Lorenz Attractor is based on three

differential equations, three constants,
and three initial conditions. The attractor
represents the behavior of gas at any
given time, and its condition at any given
time depends upon its condition at a
previous time.
The Lorenzian Waterwheel
• Although originally
developed to study the
upper atmosphere, the
Lorenz equations have
since been used in the
study of batteries, lasers,
and even the simple
chaotic waterwheel.
Lorenz Equations
The Variables

• x – refers to the convective flow.

• y – refers to the horizontal temperature
distribrution.
• z – refers to the vertical temperature
distribution.
The Constants

• σ – sigma refers to the ratio of viscoscity

to thermal conductivity.
• ρ – rho refers to the temperature
difference between the top and
bottom of a given slice.
• β – beta refers to the ratio of the width to
the height.
Behavior

• Chaotic behavior can only be found in systems

of equations with three or more variables.
• Within the Lorenz system, there are three things
that make the system chaotic.
– Equations
– Initial Values
– Constants
• If the ρ constant is below a certain value, then there will be
no chaotic behavior, and the graph will converge.
The Butterfly Effect

^ x solution with ^ y solution with

respect to time. respect to time.

« z solution with
respect to time.
Proof for Bounded System
• (x) dx/dt = (-σx+σy)(x)
• (y) dy/dt = (ρx-y-xz) (y)
• (zn) dzn/dt = (-β(zn+ρ+σ)+xy) (zn)
• ^{zn=z-ρ-σ}
• {z=zn+ρ+σ}
• ½dx2/dt = -σx2+σxy
• ½dy2/dt = ρxy-y2-xy(zn+ρ+σ)
• ½dzn2/dt = -βzn2-βρzn-βσzn+xyzn
Proof Cont.
• ½d(x2+y2+zn2)/dt = -σx2-y2-βzn2-βzn(ρ+σ)

• a2+b2 ≥ 2ab
• 2ab » -zn(√β-1)(√1/β-1)β(ρ+σ)
• a2+b2 » zn2(β-1)+(β2(ρ+σ)2/4(β-1))

• ½d(x2+y2+zn2)/dt = -σx2-y2-zn2+
• (β2(ρ+σ)2/4(β-1))
Proof Cont.

• -σx2-y2-zn2 ≤ -(x2+y2+zn2) |σ|>1

• -σx2-y2-zn2 ≤ -σ(x2+y2+zn2) |σ|<1

• R(t) = x 2
+y 2
+z n
2

• d(R(t))/dt = -2R(t)+2((β2(ρ+σ)2/4(β-1))
• R’+2R=ε
Proof Finale

• R = εte-2t+ce-2t

•R»c t=0
•R»0 t » infinity
The End