Many dynamical systems depend on parameters. One may expect that small variations of the parameters produce no significant changes in the orbits. As was shown in Chap. 3 for the Logistic Map, even in simple cases, there exist critical values such that, moving the parameters through them, the...

In this chapter, we first precise the concept of dynamical systems, and then we introduce the concept of chaos, which is characterized by a sensitive dependence on initial conditions. To quantify this, dynamical (Lyapunov exponents) and probabilistic (dimensions) measures are introduced.

This interdisciplinary book argues that the economy has an underlying non-linear structure and that business cycles are endogenous, which allows a greater explanatory power with respect to the traditional assumption that dynamics are stochastic and shocks are exogenous. The first part of this...

In this Chapter, we provide the definitions, notions and examples relevant for the analysis of the dynamical systems of interest to us in the remainder of this book. We start with with a description of dynamical systems and we provide a taxonomy. Then, we define continuous-time dynamical systems...

In this chapter, the Logistic Map is taken as the example demonstrating the generic stability properties of fixed points and limit cycles, in dependence of the strength of nonlinearity. To identify attracting periodic orbits, we use the Schwarz derivative. The chapter ends with an application of...

In this chapter, we first explain what we mean by a signal, and then we describe some characteristics such as energy, frequency, phase, power spectrum, etc. We show how to analyse it by the means of spectral analysis and Fourier transform. Moreover, as the Fourier transform does not provide any...

In this chapter, I present a specific view of signal processing. I provide the basic definitions regarding what - according to our view - signal processing should be seen as, and I elucidate in this perspective the meaning of a selection of relevant algorithms and approaches.

When a system becomes unstable or noise becomes excessive, often regulations of the form of limiters (barriers obstructing excursion into undesired areas of the phase space) are imposed. It is hoped that by the influence of this element, the system can be calmed and its behaviour can be...