Generalized models as a universal approach to the analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems

We present a universal approach to the investigation of the dynamics in generalized models. In these models the processes that are taken into account are not restricted to specific functional forms. Therefore a single generalized models can describe a class of systems which share a similar structure. Despite this generality, the proposed approach allows us to study the dynamical properties of generalized models efficiently in the framework of local bifurcation theory. The approach is based on a normalization procedure that is used to identify natural parameters of the system. The Jacobian in a steady state is then derived as a function of these parameters. The analytical computation of local bifurcations using computer algebra reveals conditions for the local asymptotic stability of steady states and provides certain insights on the global dynamics of the system. The proposed approach yields a close connection between modelling and nonlinear dynamics. We illustrate the investigation of generalized models by considering examples from three different disciplines of science: a socio-economic model of dynastic cycles in china, a model for a coupled laser system and a general ecological food web.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, (Fig. 2 in color

Fractional Dynamical Systems

In this paper the author presents the results of the preliminary investigation of fractional dynamical systems based on the results of numerical simulations of fractional maps. Fractional maps are equivalent to fractional differential equations describing systems experiencing periodic kicks. Their properties depend on the value of two parameters: the non-linearity parameter, which arises from the corresponding regular dynamical systems; and the memory parameter which is the order of the fractional derivative in the corresponding non-linear fractional differential equations. The examples of the fractional Standard and Logistic maps demonstrate that phase space of non-linear fractional dynamical systems may contain periodic sinks, attracting slow diverging trajectories, attracting accelerator mode trajectories, chaotic attractors, and cascade of bifurcations type trajectories whose properties are different from properties of attractors in regular dynamical systems. The author argues that discovered properties should be evident in the natural (biological, psychological, physical, etc.) and engineering systems with power-law memory.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Bifurcation and chaos in the double well Duffing-van der Pol oscillator: Numerical and analytical studies

The behaviour of a driven double well Duffing-van der Pol (DVP) oscillator for a specific parametric choice ($\mid \alpha \mid =\beta$) is studied. The existence of different attractors in the system parameters ($f-\omega$) domain is examined and a detailed account of various steady states for fixed damping is presented. Transition from quasiperiodic to periodic motion through chaotic oscillations is reported. The intervening chaotic regime is further shown to possess islands of phase-locked states and periodic windows (including period doubling regions), boundary crisis, all the three classes of intermittencies, and transient chaos. We also observe the existence of local-global bifurcation of intermittent catastrophe type and global bifurcation of blue-sky catastrophe type during transition from quasiperiodic to periodic solutions. Using a perturbative periodic solution, an investigation of the various forms of instablities allows one to predict Neimark instablity in the $(f-\omega)$ plane and eventually results in the approximate predictive criteria for the chaotic region.Comment: 15 pages (13 figures), RevTeX, please e-mail Lakshmanan for figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. E. (E-mail: [email protected]

On the Relationship between Equilibrium Bifurcations and Ideal MHD Instabilities for Line-Tied Coronal Loops

For axisymmetric models for coronal loops the relationship between the bifurcation points of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium sequences and the points of linear ideal MHD instability is investigated imposing line-tied boundary conditions. Using a well-studied example based on the Gold-Hoyle equilibrium, it is demonstrated that if the equilibrium sequence is calculated using the Grad-Shafranov equation, the instability corresponds to the second bifurcation point and not the first bifurcation point because the equilibrium boundary conditions allow for modes which are excluded from the linear ideal stability analysis. This is shown by calculating the bifurcating equilibrium branches and comparing the spatial structure of the solutions close to the bifurcation point with the spatial structure of the unstable mode. If the equilibrium sequence is calculated using Euler potentials the first bifurcation point of the Grad-Shafranov case is not found, and the first bifurcation point of the Euler potential description coincides with the ideal instability threshold. An explanation of this results in terms of linear bifurcation theory is given and the implications for the use of MHD equilibrium bifurcations to explain eruptive phenomena is briefly discussed.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Solar Physic

Snaking and isolas of localised states in bistable discrete lattices

We consider localised states in a discrete bistable Allen-Cahn equation. This model equation combines bistability and local cell-to-cell coupling in the simplest possible way. The existence of stable localised states is made possible by pinning to the underlying lattice; they do not exist in the equivalent continuum equation. In particular we address the existence of 'isolas': closed curves of solutions in the bifurcation diagram. Isolas appear for some non-periodic boundary conditions in one spatial dimension but seem to appear generically in two dimensions. We point out how features of the bifurcation diagram in 1D help to explain some (unintuitive) features of the bifurcation diagram in 2D.Comment: 14 page