AUTOMATIC-GENERATION OF STRANGE ATTRACTORS

A pair of coupled quadratic difference equations with randomly chosen coefficients is repeatedly iterated by computer to produce a two-dimen sional map. The map is tested for stability and sensitivity to initial conditions. The process is repeated until a chaotic solution is found . In this way a computer can generate a large collection of strange at tractors that are all different, and most of which have considerable a esthetic appeal. A simple computer program and examples of its output are provided. Many of the attractors have been systematically evaluate d for visual appeal, and a correlation is found with the Lyapunov expo nent and correlation dimension.