Nonlinear Instability Chaos And Turbulence

The second volume in a study of nonlinear stability, chaos and turbulence. It demonstrates the importance of mathematical, computational and experimental techniques to the advancement of research in nonlinear instability, chaotic motions and turbulent flow systems.

This book (2nd edition) is a self-contained introduction to a wide body of knowledge on nonlinear dynamics and chaos. Manneville emphasises the understanding of basic concepts and the nontrivial character of nonlinear response, contrasting it with the intuitively simple linear response. He explains the theoretical framework using pedagogical examples from fluid dynamics, though prior knowledge of this field is not required. Heuristic arguments and worked examples replace most esoteric technicalities. Only basic understanding of mathematics and physics is required, at the level of what is currently known after one or two years of undergraduate training: elementary calculus, basic notions of linear algebra and ordinary differential calculus, and a few fundamental physical equations (specific complements are provided when necessary). Methods presented are of fully general use, which opens up ample windows on topics of contemporary interest. These include complex dynamical processes such as patterning, chaos control, mixing, and even the Earth's climate. Numerical simulations are proposed as a means to obtain deeper understanding of the intricacies induced by nonlinearities in our everyday environment, with hints on adapted modelling strategies and their implementation.

Translated from the Russian. Gathers together the basic ideas of nonlinear theory essential for all branches of physics: mechanics of continuous media, optics, radiophysics, solid state physics, plasma physics. Includes color plates. Two sets of computer software (eight scenarios of dynamic computer graphics, and an ATRS program for research workers) are available separately. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The present collection of reprints covers the main contributions of David Ruelle, and coauthors, to the theory of chaos and its applications. Several of the papers reproduced here are classics in the field. Others (that were published in less accessible places) may still surprise the reader. The collection contains mathematical articles relevant to chaos, specific articles on the theory, and articles on applications to hydrodynamical turbulence, chemical oscillations, etc. A sound judgement of the value of techniques and applications is crucial in the interdisciplinary field of chaos. For a critical assessment of what has been achieved in this area, the present volume is an invaluable contribution. Contents:On the Nature of TurbulenceBifurcation in the Presence of a Symmetry GroupThe Ergodic Theory of Axiom A FlowsMicroscopic Fluctuations and TurbulenceStrange AttractorsMeasures Describing a Turbulent FlowDo Turbulent Crystals Exist?Characteristic Exponents for a Viscous Fuid Subjected to Time Dependent ForcesBowen's Formula for the Hausdorff Dimension of Self-Similar SetsErgodic Theory of Chaos and Strange AttractorsLiapunov Exponents from Time SeriesFundamental Limitations for Estimating Dimensions and Lyapunov Exponents in Dynamical SystemsWhere can One Hope to Profitably Apply the Ideas of Chaos? Readership: Nonlinear scientists, researchers in fluid dynamics, mathematical physicists and mathematicians. keywords:Turbulence;Strange Attractor;Chaos;Chemical Oscillation;Ergodic Theory;Turbulent Crystal;Reaction-Diffusion;Hausdorff Dimension;Repeller;Resonance;Recurrence Plot

So far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain. And so far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality. -A. Einstein The word "instability" in day-to-day language is associated with some thing going wrong or being abnormal: exponential growth of cancer cells, irrational behavior of a patient, collapse of a structure, etc. This book, however, is about "good" instabilities, which lead to change, evolution, progress, creativity, and intelligence; they explain the paradox of irreversi bility in thermodynamics, the phenomena of chaos and turbulence in clas sical mechanics, and non-deterministic (multi-choice) behavior in biological and social systems. The concept of instability is an attribute of dynamical models that de scribe change in time of physical parameters, biological or social events, etc. Each dynamical model has a certain sensitivity to small changes or "errors" in initial values of its variables. These errors may grow in time, and if such growth is of an exponential rate, the behavior of the variable is defined as unstable. However, the overall effect of an unstable variable upon the dynamical system is not necessarily destructive. Indeed, there al ways exists such a group of variables that do not contribute to the energy of the system. In mechanics such variables are called ignorable or cyclic.