Chaotic dynamics: an introduction based on classical mechanics

Tamás Tél, Márton Gruiz9780521547833, 9780521839129, 0521547830, 0521839122, 9780511335044

It has been discovered over the past few decades that even motions in simple systems can have complex and surprising properties. This volume provides a clear introduction to these chaotic phenomena, based on geometrical interpretations and simple arguments, without the need for prior in-depth scientific and mathematical knowledge. Richly illustrated throughout, its examples are taken from classical mechanics whose elementary laws are familiar to the reader. In order to emphasize the general features of chaos, the most important relations are also given in simple mathematical forms, independent of any mechanical interpretation.