Nonlinear Dynamical Systems (Phys 417)
This course introduces modern
geometrical
methods for the analysis of dynamical systems. The course, which is
computer
intensive, is unique in comprising a laboratory component which allows
one to examine and analyze real systems.The development of this course
has been funded by the NSF under a CCD grant.
To see the paper publised in American Journal of Physics about the
course and/or the invited presentation at Gordon Conference
and AAPT meetings click
here.
This course:
-
teaches geometrical methods and visualization
techniques
for the analysis of complex dynamical systems with the purpose of
building
an intuitive understanding of their behavior,
-
offers experimental laboratory exercises drawn from
a variety
of fields for hands-on experience and to show the underlying
similarities
between seemingly unrelated systems,
-
goes beyond the traditional analysis of simple
linear systems
and includes nonlinear and chaotic systems,
-
involves experiments which use computers for data
acquisition
and analysis,
-
includes numerical methods using computers in
analyzing dynamical
systems,
-
will satisfy the GE Area B6 requirement.
PREREQUISITE:
1 year of Calculus AND a 300 level course in your own
major,
OR differential equations.
COURSE FORMAT
Lectures: conducted in a room equipped
with
computers.
Laboratory: Involves
computer interfaced data acquisition and data analysis using Matlab
as well as computer simulations. (See the Experiments link below for
more detailed information)
Textbook: "Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos ", by
S.H.
Strogatz, Addison Wesley, 1994.
There will be scheduled experiments for the first
seven
weeks and the students will be working on a self selected project for
the
last three weeks.
List of faculty involved in the development
Click here for
the
group picture
Other interesting sites
Georgia Tech Applied Chaos
Laboratory
sci.nonlinear
faq this is a great place to find basic information on nonlinear
systems
and chaos
Center for Nonlinear Dynamics
at
UT Austin
Institute for Nonlinear
Science
at
UCSD
Chaos archive from
Center for
Nonlinear Studies at Los Alamos
Chaos at Cornell