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Computer Algebra Recipes

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46 CHAPTER 1. PHASE-PLANE PORTRAITS<br />

The resulting picture is shown in Figure 1.18. The trajectory unwinds in a<br />

spiral fashion from its starting point near the origin, indicating that the ¯xed<br />

point at the origin is an unstable focal point. As time progresses, the trajectory<br />

is attracted to a localized region of the phase space where it traces out a<br />

never-repeating (chaotic) path. This is an example of a strange attractor, the<br />

word strange being introduced historically because it was not like a \normal"<br />

attractor (e.g., a focal point). Strange attractors also have the property that<br />

they have noninteger, or fractal, dimensions. If you wish to learn more about<br />

strange attractors and fractal patterns, this topic is discussed at length in the<br />

Introductory Guide.<br />

PROBLEMS: Problem 1-21: Second ¯xed point<br />

Run the text recipe with an initial condition near the second ¯xed point. What<br />

is the probable nature of this ¯xed point? What is the nature of the resulting<br />

trajectory as time progresses?<br />

Problem 1-22: Varying c<br />

Holding all other parameters as in the text recipe, explore the behavior of the<br />

RÄossler system as the coe±cient c is varied. Interpret the results.

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