Deterministic Chaos

Deterministic Chaos - Advanced

Cat Mapping: A transformation
equation is applied to an image
of a cat. Although many of the
frames appear to contain rather
random images, some frames
contain ghost-like images of the
cat. After 300 iterations, the
original image returns. This
type of transformation is called
"invertible."

Here's a FAQ about non-linear systems that includes sections on chaos.

This site has an algebraic introduction to the mathematics of chaos. It also has a nice applet for investigating bifurcations about halfway down the page.

A handful of applets -- driven pendulum, chaos wedge, double pendulum, diode resonator and coupled resonator are examples of dynamic systems that become chaotic. The mathematics discussed with each example do require some knowledge of calculus.

Physicists (and others) use the idea of the "Standard Map" to describe chaotic systems. An easy-to-understand introductory tutorial and applet can be found here.

How science comprehends chaos - a lecture explaining chaos and other nonlinear complexities as well as how such phenomena fit into the scientific framework.