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Rössler attractor
Encyclopedia
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/r/ro/roessler_attractor.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/r/ro/rosslerstereo.png)
Attractor
An attractor is a set towards which a dynamical system evolves over time. That is, points that get close enough to the attractor remain close even if slightly disturbed...
for the Rössler system, a system of three non-linear ordinary differential equation
Ordinary differential equation
In mathematics, an ordinary differential equation is a relation that contains functions of only one independent variable, and one or more of their derivatives with respect to that variable....
s. These differential equations define a continuous-time dynamical system that exhibits chaotic
Chaos theory
Chaos theory is a field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including physics, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, an effect which is popularly referred to as the...
dynamics associated with the fractal properties of the attractor. Some properties of the Rössler system can be deduced via linear methods such as eigenvectors, but the main features of the system require non-linear methods such as Poincaré map
Poincaré map
In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, a first recurrence map or Poincaré map, named after Henri Poincaré, is the intersection of a periodic orbit in the state space of a continuous dynamical system with a certain lower dimensional subspace, called the Poincaré section, transversal to...
s and bifurcation diagram
Bifurcation diagram
In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, a bifurcation diagram shows the possible long-term values of a system as a function of a bifurcation parameter in the system...
s. The original Rössler paper says the Rössler attractor was intended to behave similarly to the Lorenz attractor
Lorenz attractor
The Lorenz attractor, named for Edward N. Lorenz, is an example of a non-linear dynamic system corresponding to the long-term behavior of the Lorenz oscillator. The Lorenz oscillator is a 3-dimensional dynamical system that exhibits chaotic flow, noted for its lemniscate shape...
, but also be easier to analyze qualitatively. An orbit within the attractor follows an outward spiral close to the
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-1.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-2.gif)
Manifold
In mathematics , a manifold is a topological space that on a small enough scale resembles the Euclidean space of a specific dimension, called the dimension of the manifold....
. Otto Rössler
Otto Rössler
Otto E. Rössler is a German biochemist and is notable for his work on chaos theory and his theoretical equation known as the Rössler attractor.-Biography:...
designed the Rössler attractor in 1976, but the originally theoretical equations were later found to be useful in modeling equilibrium in chemical reactions. The defining equations are:
Rössler studied the chaotic attractor with
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-6.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-7.gif)
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![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-11.gif)
An analysis
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/r/ro/rosslerstdxy.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-12.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-13.gif)
The stability in the
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-16.gif)
Jacobian
In vector calculus, the Jacobian matrix is the matrix of all first-order partial derivatives of a vector- or scalar-valued function with respect to another vector. Suppose F : Rn → Rm is a function from Euclidean n-space to Euclidean m-space...
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-17.gif)
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Fixed points
In order to find the fixed points, the three Rössler equations are set to zero and the (![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-34.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-35.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-36.gif)
Which in turn can be used to show the actual fixed points for a given set of parameter values:
As shown in the general plots of the Rössler Attractor above, one of these fixed points resides in the center of the attractor loop and the other lies comparatively removed from the attractor.
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
The stability of each of these fixed points can be analyzed by determining their respective eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Beginning with the Jacobian:![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-42.gif)
the eigenvalues can be determined by solving the following cubic:
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-43.gif)
For the centrally located fixed point, Rössler’s original parameter values of a=0.2, b=0.2, and c=5.7 yield eigenvalues of:
(Using Mathematica 7)
The magnitude of a negative eigenvalue characterizes the level of attraction along the corresponding eigenvector. Similarly the magnitude of a positive eigenvalue characterizes the level of repulsion along the corresponding eigenvector.
The eigenvectors corresponding to these eigenvalues are:
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/e/ei/eigenvectors.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/r/ro/rosslerstd3d.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-50.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-51.gif)
The figure examines the central fixed point eigenvectors. The blue line corresponds to the standard Rössler attractor generated with
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-52.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-53.gif)
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For the outlier fixed point, Rössler’s original parameter values of
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-65.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-66.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-67.gif)
The eigenvectors corresponding to these eigenvalues are:
Although these eigenvalues and eigenvectors exist in the Rössler attractor, their influence is confined to iterations of the Rössler system whose initial conditions are in the general vicinity of this outlier fixed point. Except in those cases where the initial conditions lie on the attracting plane generated by
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-74.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-75.gif)
Poincaré map
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/p/po/poincare.png)
Poincaré map
In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, a first recurrence map or Poincaré map, named after Henri Poincaré, is the intersection of a periodic orbit in the state space of a continuous dynamical system with a certain lower dimensional subspace, called the Poincaré section, transversal to...
is constructed by plotting the value of the function every time it passes through a set plane in a specific direction. An example would be plotting the
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-76.gif)
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Mapping local maxima
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/t/te/tentmap.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-91.gif)
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![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-94.gif)
(shown here for
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-95.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-96.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-97.gif)
Variation of parameters
Rössler attractor's behavior is largely a factor of the values of its constant parameters![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-98.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-99.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-100.gif)
Bifurcation diagram
Bifurcation diagram
In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, a bifurcation diagram shows the possible long-term values of a system as a function of a bifurcation parameter in the system...
s are a common tool for analyzing the behavior of dynamical system
Dynamical system
A dynamical system is a concept in mathematics where a fixed rule describes the time dependence of a point in a geometrical space. Examples include the mathematical models that describe the swinging of a clock pendulum, the flow of water in a pipe, and the number of fish each springtime in a...
s, of which the Rössler attractor is one. They are created by running the equations of the system, holding all but one of the variables constant and varying the last one. Then, a graph.is plotted of the points that a particular value for the changed variable visits after transient factors have been neutralised. Chaotic regions are indicated by filled-in regions of the plot.
Varying a
Here,![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-101.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-102.gif)
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-
: Converges to the centrally located fixed point
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: Unit cycle of period 1
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: Standard parameter value selected by Rössler, chaotic
-
: Chaotic attractor, significantly more Möbius strip
Möbius stripThe Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled surface...
-like (folding over itself). -
: Similar to .3, but increasingly chaotic
-
: Similar to .35, but increasingly chaotic.
Varying b
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/b/bi/bifurcation_diagramb.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-111.gif)
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Varying c
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/b/bi/bifurcation.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-120.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-121.gif)
Bifurcation diagram
In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, a bifurcation diagram shows the possible long-term values of a system as a function of a bifurcation parameter in the system...
reveals that low values of
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-122.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-123.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-124.gif)
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![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-127.gif)
A graphical illustration of the changing attractor over a range of
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-128.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/v/va/varyingc.png)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-129.gif)
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/1/3/2132056-130.gif)
, period-1 orbit.
, period-2 orbit.
, period-4 orbit.
, period-8 orbit.
, sparse chaotic attractor.
, period-3 orbit.
, period-6 orbit.
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, sparse chaotic attractor.
, filled-in chaotic attractor.
Links to other topics
The banding evident in the Rössler attractor is similar to a Cantor setCantor set
In mathematics, the Cantor set is a set of points lying on a single line segment that has a number of remarkable and deep properties. It was discovered in 1875 by Henry John Stephen Smith and introduced by German mathematician Georg Cantor in 1883....
rotated about its midpoint. Additionally, the half-twist in the Rössler attractor makes it similar to a Möbius strip
Möbius strip
The Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled surface...
.
See also
- Lorenz attractorLorenz attractorThe Lorenz attractor, named for Edward N. Lorenz, is an example of a non-linear dynamic system corresponding to the long-term behavior of the Lorenz oscillator. The Lorenz oscillator is a 3-dimensional dynamical system that exhibits chaotic flow, noted for its lemniscate shape...
- List of chaotic maps
- Chaos theoryChaos theoryChaos theory is a field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including physics, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, an effect which is popularly referred to as the...
- Dynamical systemDynamical systemA dynamical system is a concept in mathematics where a fixed rule describes the time dependence of a point in a geometrical space. Examples include the mathematical models that describe the swinging of a clock pendulum, the flow of water in a pipe, and the number of fish each springtime in a...
- Fractals
- Otto RösslerOtto RösslerOtto E. Rössler is a German biochemist and is notable for his work on chaos theory and his theoretical equation known as the Rössler attractor.-Biography:...