BASINS OF ATTRACTION IN EXPERIMENTAL NONLINEAR OSCILLATORS

This paper addresses two relatively simple but fundamental questions i n nonlinear oscillations: Given an arbitrary initial condition where w ill the trajectory go, and how long will it take to get there? These r elated questions are addressed from an experimental perspective where generating global transient behavior has received relatively little at tention, despite the fact that a global view of transient behavior pro vides a much more complete description of the dynamics of a system tha n a traditional concentration on steady-state behavior. Three differen t physical systems are studied, each of which exhibits a specific beha vior heavily influenced by transient global effects.