Lectures On Fractal Geometry And Dynamical Systems

Lectures on Fractal Geometry and Dynamical Systems

Both fractal geometry and dynamical systems have a long history of development and have provided fertile ground for many great mathematicians and much deep and important mathematics. These two areas interact with each other and with the theory of chaos in a fundamental way: many dynamical systems (even some very simple ones) produce fractal sets, which are in turn a source of irregular 'chaotic' motions in the system. This book is an introduction to these two fields, with an emphasis on the relationship between them. The first half of the book introduces some of the key ideas in fractal geometry and dimension theory - Cantor sets, Hausdorff dimension, box dimension - using dynamical notions whenever possible, particularly one-dimensional Markov maps and symbolic dynamics. Various techniques for computing Hausdorff dimension are shown, leading to a discussion of Bernoulli and Markov measures and of the relationship between dimension, entropy, and Lyapunov exponents. In the second half of the book some examples of dynamical systems are considered and various phenomena of chaotic behaviour are discussed, including bifurcations, hyperbolicity, attractors, horseshoes, and intermittent and persistent chaos. These phenomena are naturally revealed in the course of our study of two real models from science - the FitzHugh - Nagumo model and the Lorenz system of differential equations. This book is accessible to undergraduate students and requires only standard knowledge in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Elements of point set topology and measure theory are introduced as needed. This book is a result of the MASS course in analysis at Penn State University in the fall semester of 2008.

An Invitation to Fractal Geometry

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of fractal dimensions, self-similarity, and fractal curves. Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, mathematicians, and scientists across disciplines, this text requires minimal prerequisites beyond a solid foundation in undergraduate mathematics. While fractal geometry may seem esoteric, this book demystifies it by providing a thorough introduction to its mathematical underpinnings and applications. Complete proofs are provided for most of the key results, and exercises of different levels of difficulty are proposed throughout the book. Key topics covered include the Hausdorff metric, Hausdorff measure, and fractal dimensions such as Hausdorff and Minkowski dimensions. The text meticulously constructs and analyzes Hausdorff measure, offering readers a deep understanding of its properties. Through emblematic examples like the Cantor set, the Sierpinski gasket, the Koch snowflake curve, and the Weierstrass curve, readers are introduced to self-similar sets and their construction via the iteration of contraction mappings. The book also sets the stage for the advanced theory of complex dimensions and fractal drums by gently introducing it via a variety of classical examples, including well-known fractal curves. By intertwining historical context with rigorous mathematical exposition, this book serves as both a stand-alone resource and a gateway to deeper explorations in fractal geometry.

Lectures on Probability Theory, Dynamical Systems and Fractal Geometry