Regular and chaotic motion of a kicked pendulum: A Markovian approach

Mechanical devices subject to impulsive excitation may exhibit very complic ated dynamics. Though desirable, a complete analysis of the statistical mor phogenesis of (the maps induced by) such systems usually is highly demandin g. We therefore focus on a special class of maps nevertheless wide enough t o comprise a number of interesting examples. Furthermore, an approximation technique tailored to this specific class is shown to improve Markovian app roximation techniques discussed in the literature.