Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity,
now available at
Oxford University Press
(USA,
Europe).
Chaotic dynamical systems have sensitive dependence on initial
conditions. This is commonly described as the "butterfly effect":
the flap of a butterfly's wing in Brazil can build up to change a tornado
later in Texas. In this exercise, we measure the sensitivity to initial
conditions for the logistic map by introducing the Lyapunov exponent.
Last modified: August 24, 2006
Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity,
now available at
Oxford University Press
(USA,
Europe).