posted on 2024-11-18, 14:48authored byInaugural addresses
Inaugural lecture--Department of Physics, Rand Afrikaans University, 28 April 1987@@Many dynamical systems in physics, engineering science, chemistry and biology exhibit complex behaviour. The apparently random motion of a fluid is the best known example. However, vibrating structures, electronic oscillators, magnetic devices, chemical oscillators, populatiol1 kinetics and cellular automata can also behave in a complicated manner. One can find irregular oscillations which depend sensitively on the initial conditions. This behaviour is now called "chaos" in physics. This talk gives a review about this research field. In particular the importance in practical applications are pointed out. Finally the status of and support for this research field in different countries is discussed.