Stability, Instability and Chaos: An Introduction to the Theory of Nonlinear Differential Equations (Cambridge Texts in Applied Mathematics, Band 11)

This book examines qualitative methods for nonlinear differential equations, bifurcation theory and chaos in terms suitable for advanced undergraduate and first-year postgraduate students in mathematics and physics. Starting from the idea of phase space, the structure of solutions near hyperbolic stationary points and periodic orbits in investigated. Then, after a brief discussion of perturbation methods and nonlinear oscillators, the theory of nonhyperbolic stationary points, bifurcations and chaos is described.