Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research
Published on: November 24, 2021
Example of a physical system with a hyperbolic attractor of the Smale-Williams type
1Institute of Radio-Engineeing and Electronics of RAS, Saratov Division, Zelenaya 38 Saratov, 410019, Russia.
Abstract:
A simple and transparent example of a nonautonomous flow system with a hyperbolic strange attractor is suggested. The system is constructed on the basis of two coupled van der Pol oscillators, the characteristic frequencies differ twice, and the parameters controlling generation in both oscillators undergo a slow periodic counterphase variation in time. In terms of stroboscopic Poincaré sections, the respective 4D mapping has a hyperbolic strange attractor of the Smale-Williams type. Qualitative reasoning and quantitative data of numerical computations are presented and discussed, e.g., Lyapunov exponents and their parameter dependencies. A special test for hyperbolicity based on analysis of distributions of angles between stable and unstable subspaces of a chaotic trajectory is performed.
Related Concept Videos
Root Loci for Positive-Feedback Systems
The construction rules for the root locus in positive feedback systems are similar to those in...
Classification of Systems-I
Homogeneity dictates that if an input x(t) is multiplied by a constant c, the output y(t) is multiplied by the same constant. Mathematically, this is expressed as:
Pole and System Stability
Simple poles are unique roots of the denominator polynomial. Each simple pole corresponds to a distinct solution to the system's characteristic equation, typically resulting in exponential decay terms in the system's response.
Hyperbolas
Mechanical Systems
One-Degree-of-Freedom System
A one-degree-of-freedom system is defined by an independent variable that determines its state and behavior. One example of a one-degree-of-freedom system is a simple harmonic oscillator, such as a...
