This website is no longer updated.

As of 1.10.2022, the Faculty of Physics has been merged into the TUM School of Natural Sciences with the website https://www.nat.tum.de/. For more information read Conversion of Websites.

de | en

Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems 1

Module PH2027

This module handbook serves to describe contents, learning outcome, methods and examination type as well as linking to current dates for courses and module examination in the respective sections.

Module version of WS 2022/3 (current)

There are historic module descriptions of this module. A module description is valid until replaced by a newer one.

Whether the module’s courses are offered during a specific semester is listed in the section Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature below.

available module versions
WS 2022/3WS 2021/2WS 2020/1WS 2019/20WS 2017/8WS 2010/1

Basic Information

PH2027 is a semester module in English language at Master’s level which is offered in winter semester.

This Module is included in the following catalogues within the study programs in physics.

  • Specific catalogue of special courses for condensed matter physics
  • Specific catalogue of special courses for Biophysics
  • Specific catalogue of special courses for Applied and Engineering Physics
  • Complementary catalogue of special courses for nuclear, particle, and astrophysics
  • Specialization Modules in Elite-Master Program Theoretical and Mathematical Physics (TMP)

If not stated otherwise for export to a non-physics program the student workload is given in the following table.

Total workloadContact hoursCredits (ECTS)
150 h 60 h 5 CP

Responsible coordinator of the module PH2027 is Katharina Krischer.

Content, Learning Outcome and Preconditions

Content

This module introduces the basic concepts enabling an understanding of the emergence of cooperative phenomena that are intrinsic to low-dimensional nonlinear systems. The phenomena discussed range from bistable behavior, via sustained oscillations to deterministic chaos. After a historical overview and an introduction into the ideas of nonlinearity and phase space, the lecture follows a classification of dynamical systems according to their phase space dimension, i.e. complexity of the solutions. First, stability and bifurcations of fixed points in one-dimensional systems are discussed. Then oscillations and their emergence in a 2-dimensional phase space are examined. After a discussion of bifurcations of limit cycles and introduction of the Poincare-section and Poincare maps, chaotic dynamics is studied. This includes characterization of chaotic attractors through invariant measures (different dimensions), Lyapunov exponents, routes to chaos and the characterization of experimental, chaotic time series.

Throughout the lecture examples and applications from all fields of natural sciences are discussed, stressing the interdisciplinary aspect of the subject. In the tutorial, the students analyse themselves simple nonlinear equations, applying the techniques introduced in the lecture, and are familiarized with state of the art dynamical systems software.

Learning Outcome

After participation in the module the students are familiar with the concepts of nonlinear dynamical systems, the differences to linear systems and modern techniques to analyse nonlinear ordinary differential equations. They are able to:

  • explain the geometrical approach to dynamical systems and the concepts of stability and bifurcations
  • perform a phase space analysis envoking dynamical systems tools (programs)
  • perform a 1- and 2- dimensional bifurcation analysis of a set of coupled ordinary differential equations using continuation software
  • explain the different routes to low-dimensional deterministic chaos and characterize chaotic dynamics in terms of the most important invariant measures.

Preconditions

No preconditions in addition to the requirements for the Master’s program in Physics.

Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature

Courses and Schedule

Learning and Teaching Methods

The module consists of a lecture and an exercise.

In the thematically structured lecture the learning content is presented. With cross references between different topics the universal concepts in nonlinear dynamics are shown. In scientific discussions the students are involved to stimulate their analytic-physics intellectual power.

In the exercise the learning content is deepened and exercised using problem examples and state of the art programs for system analysis. Thus the students are able to explain and apply the learned physics knowledge independently.

Media

Blackboard, powerpoint, videos, textbook, complementary literature, exercises in individual and group workpractise sheets.

Literature

  • St. H. Strogatz: Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, CRC Press, (2000)
  • J. Argyris, G. Faust, M. Haase & R. Friedrich: An Exploration of Dynamical Dystems and Chaos, Springer, (2015)
  • J.M.T. Thompson & H.B. Stewart: Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, Wiley, (2002)
  • E. Ott: Chaos in Dynamical Systems, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, (2002)
  • P. Berge, Y. Pomeau & Ch. Vidal: Order within Chaos: towards a deterministic approach to turbulence, Wiley, (1986)
  • J. D. Murray: Mathematical Biology I, Springer, (2007)

Module Exam

Description of exams and course work

There will be an oral exam of 30 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions .

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

  • Discuss the qualitative differences of oscillations in linear and nonlinear systems.
  • Explain the necessary properties of a dynamical system exhibiting deterministic chaos.
  • What is a bifurcation?

In the exam no learning aids are permitted.

Participation in the exercise classes is strongly recommended since the exercises prepare for the problems of the exam and rehearse the specific competencies.

Remarks on associated module exams

The exam for this module can be taken together with the exam to the associated follow-up module PH2028: Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems 2 / Nichtlineare Dynamik und komplexe Systeme 2 after the follwoing semester. In this case you need to register for both exams in the following semester.

Exam Repetition

The exam may be repeated at the end of the semester. There is a possibility to take the exam in the following semester.

Current exam dates

Currently TUMonline lists the following exam dates. In addition to the general information above please refer to the current information given during the course.

Title
TimeLocationInfoRegistration
Exam to Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems 1
Mon, 2024-02-05 till 23:55 Dummy-Termin. Wenden Sie sich zur individuellen Terminvereinbarung an die/den Prüfer(in). Anmeldung für Prüfungstermin vor 23.03.2024. // Dummy date. Contact examiner for individual appointment. Registration for exam date before 2024-Mar-23. till 2024-01-15 (cancelation of registration till 2024-02-04)
Mon, 2024-03-25 till 23:55 Dummy-Termin. Wenden Sie sich zur individuellen Terminvereinbarung an die/den Prüfer(in). Anmeldung für Prüfungstermin zwischen 25.03.2024 und 20.04.2024. // Dummy date. Contact examiner for individual appointment. Registration for exam date between 2024-Mar-25 and 2024-Apr-20. till 2024-03-24
Top of page