Further Investigation

Figure 92: The $v$-coordinate of the Poincaré section of a time-asymptotic orbit plotted against the quality-factor $Q$. Data calculated numerically for $A=1.5$, $\omega =2/3$, $\theta (0)=0$, $v(0)=0$, and $\phi =0$.

Figure 92 shows the complete bifurcation diagram for the damped, periodically driven, pendulum (with $A=1.5$ and $\omega =2/3$). It can be seen that the chaotic region investigated in the previous section is, in fact, the first, and least extensive, of three different chaotic regions.

Figure 93: Equally spaced (in time) points on a time-asymptotic orbit in phase-space. Data calculated numerically for $Q=1.5$, $A=1.5$, $\omega =2/3$, $\theta (0)=0$, and $v(0)=0$. Also shown is the time-asymptotic orbit calculated for the modified initial conditions $\theta (0)=0$, and $v(0)=-1$.

The interval between the first and second chaotic regions is occupied by the period-1 orbits shown in Figure 93. Note that these orbits differ somewhat from previously encountered period-1 orbits in that the pendulum executes a complete rotation (either to the left or to the right) every period of the external drive. Now, an $n,l$ periodic orbit is defined such that

$$\theta(t+n\,\tau) = \theta(t) + 2\pi\,l$$

for all $t$ (after the transients have died away). It follows that all of the periodic orbits which we encountered in previous sections were $l=0$ orbits: i.e., their associated motions did not involve a net rotation of the pendulum. The orbits show in Figure 93 are $n=1, l=-1$ and $n=1, l=+1$ orbits, respectively. The existence of periodic orbits in which the pendulum undergoes a net rotation, either to the left or to the right, is another example of spatial symmetry breaking--there is nothing in the pendulum's equations of motion which distinguishes between the two possible directions of rotation.

Figure 94: The Poincaré section of a time-asymptotic orbit. Data calculated numerically for $Q=2.13$, $A=1.5$, $\omega =2/3$, $\theta (0)=0$, $v(0)=0$, and $\phi =0$.

Figure 94 shows the Poincaré section of a typical attractor in the second chaotic region shown in Figure 92. It can be seen that this attractor is far more convoluted and extensive than the simple 4-line chaotic attractor pictured in Figure 82. In fact, the attractor shown in Figure 94 is clearly a fractal curve. It turns out that virtually all chaotic attractors exhibit fractal structure.

The interval between the second and third chaotic regions shown in Figure 92 is occupied by $n=3$, $l=0$ periodic orbits. Figure 95 shows the Poincaré section of a typical attractor in the third chaotic region. It can be seen that this attractor is even more overtly fractal in nature than that pictured in the previous figure. Note that the fractal nature of chaotic attractors is closely associated with some of their unusual properties. Trajectories on a chaotic attractor remain confined to a bounded region of phase-space, and yet they separate from their neighbours exponentially fast (at least, initially). How can trajectories diverge endlessly and still stay bounded? The basic mechanism is described below. If we imagine a blob of initial conditions in phase-space then these undergo a series of repeated stretching and folding episodes, as the chaotic motion unfolds. The stretching is what gives rise to the divergence of neighbouring trajectories. The folding is what ensures that the trajectories remain bounded. The net result is a phase-space structure which looks a bit like filo pastry--in other words, a fractal structure.

Figure 95: The Poincaré section of a time-asymptotic orbit. Data calculated numerically for $Q=3.9$, $A=1.5$, $\omega =2/3$, $\theta (0)=0$, $v(0)=0$, and $\phi =0$.