Linear stability analysis, attractors, limit cycles, Poincare-Bendixson theorem, relaxation oscillations, elements of bifurcation theory: saddle-node, transcritical, pitchfork, Hopf bifurcations, integrability, Hamiltonian systems, Lotka-Volterra equations, Lyapunov function & direct method for stability, dissipative systems, Lorenz system, chaos & its measures, Lyapunov exponents, strange attractors, simple maps, period-doubling bifurcations, Feigenbaum constants, fractals. Both flows (continuous time systems) & discrete time systems (simple maps) will be discussed. Assignments will include numerical simulations.
Prerequisites, if any: familiarity with linear algebra - matrices, and ordinary differential equations
Desirable: ability to write codes for solving simple problems.