Chaos and Complexity in Astrophysics

The discipline of nonlinear dynamics has developed explosively in all areas of physics over the last two decades. This comprehensive primer summarizes the main developments in the mathematical theory of dynamical systems chaos pattern formation and complexity. An introduction to mathematical concepts and techniques is given in the first part of the book before being applied to stellar interstellar galactic and large scale complex phenomena in the Universe. Oded Regev demonstrates the possible application of ideas including strange attractors Poincar sections fractals bifurcations and complex spatial patterns to specific astrophysical problems.