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Probability distributions of local Lyapunov exponents for Hamiltonian systems

Journal Article · · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. The James Franck Institute and Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)

We calculate the probability distributions of the largest local Lyapunov exponent for three Hamiltonian systems at different values of the energy [ital E], for a set of increasing values of the length in which the trajectory is partitioned. The systems we study are the Henon-Heiles model and the classical Ar[sub 3] and Ar[sub 7] clusters. We show that these distributions contain much information about the dynamics of the system and, in particular, can be used to study the evolution of ergodic properties as the internal energy of the system increases; therefore, even though the inequivalence of chaos and ergodicity does not allow one to consider Lyaponov exponents to be a direct measure of ergodicity, the sample distributions of short-term Lyapunov exponents can be used to evaluate the extent of ergodic behavior in the various situations.

DOE Contract Number:
FG02-86ER13488
OSTI ID:
6521162
Journal Information:
Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States) Vol. 47:5; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English