Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

Catalog description

An introduction to nonlinear dynamics with applications to physics, engineering, biology, and chemistry. Emphasizes analytical methods, concrete examples, and geometric thinking. Topics include one-dimensional systems; bifurcations; phase plane; nonlinear oscillators; and Lorenz equations, chaos, strange attractors, fractals, iterated mappings, period doubling, renormalization. Students will be expected to be comfortable writing proofs. More experience with proofs may be gained by first taking a 3000-level MATH course.