Transition to chaos in nonlinear dynamical systems described by ordinary differential equations

摘要

We investigate scenarios that create chaotic attractors in systems of ordinary differential equations (Vallis, Rikitaki, Rossler, etc.). We show that the creation of chaotic attractors is governed by the same mechanisms. The Feigenbaum bifurcation cascade is shown to be universal, while subharmonic and homoclinic cascades may be complete, incomplete, or not exist at all depending on system parameters. The existence of a saddle-focus equilibrium plays an important and possibly decisive role in the creation of chaotic attractors in dissipative nonlinear systems described by ordinary differential equations.