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Science 16 January 1987:
Vol. 235. no. 4786, pp. 342 - 345
DOI: 10.1126/science.235.4786.342
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Articles

Chaotic Bursts in Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

ROBERT L. DEVANEY 1

1 Department of Mathematics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215.

Several elementary nonlinear dynamical systems in the complex plane may provide models for abrupt transitions to chaotic dynamics. In particular, the complex trigonometric and exponential functions explode into chaos as a parameter is varied. Numerical evidence is presented that supports the contention that these explosions occur whenever an elementary bifurcation occurs. This numerical evidence, in the form of computer graphics, is an example of the increasing importance of experimentation in mathematics research.

Submitted on June 6, 1986
Accepted on October 30, 1986

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)