# Family of Bistable Attractors Contained in an Unstable Dissipative Switching System Associated to a SNLF

Authors: J. L. Echenausía-Monroy; J. H. García-López; R. Jaimes-Reátegui; D. López-Mancilla; G. Huerta-Cuellar
Journal: Complexity
 (2018)

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## Abstract

This work presents a multiscroll generator system, which addresses the issue by the implementation of 9-level saturated nonlinear function, SNLF, being modified with a new control parameter that acts as a bifurcation parameter. By means of the modification of the newly introduced parameter, it is possible to control the number of scrolls to generate. The proposed system has richer dynamics than the original, not only presenting the generation of a global attractor; it is capable of generating monostable and bistable multiscrolls. The study of the basin of attraction for the natural attractor generation (9-scroll SNLF) shows the restrictions in the initial conditions space where the system is capable of presenting dynamical responses, limiting its possible electronic implementations.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Over the last few years, the development and implementation of chaotic oscillators have been extensively studied, taking a special interest in the generation of systems with multiscrolls in their phase space, such as the Lorenz [1] and Chua [2] systems, which present a double-scroll attractor. There are several methods to obtain multiscroll behavior, for example, by adding breakpoints to Chua’s function [3, 4], by using a system with hysteresis [5, 6], implementing step functions, using sine/cosine functions, or by generating piecewise linear functions [7–10]. The disadvantage of these methods is that the systems have more fixed points than scrolls generated, so increasing the number of scrolls in the phase space turns into a more complex task to address. As an alternative to this dilemma arises, the conception of a saturated nonlinear function, SNLF, which is based on the operational amplifiers performance [11, 12], which guarantees to find as many scrolls as segmentation points the function possesses, being a simpler way to approach the topic in the scrolls generation.An example of this kind of systems can be described within the theory of unstable dissipative systems, UDS [13, 14], which characterizes the systems of three differential equations based on the location of the eigenvalues that it possesses. UDS’s are classified as type I or type II, where the order of the type represents the number of eigenvalues with negative real part. In general, any three-dimensional dynamic system is considered an UDS if and only if it has a combination of eigenvalues that coincide with the definition of a hyperbolic saddle-node, and the sum of these components is negative, i.e., the dissipation condition is fulfilled [15]. Examples of these systems are found in Rössler [16], Lorenz [1], and Chua [2], among some other systems [17–19]. This kind of combination in the eigenvalues favors the appearance of multiscroll behavior, by means of the implementation of the appropriated nonlinear function.In recent years, the design and control of systems with multiple scrolls have been a subject of interest for the scientific community, having a great impact in their application, such as secure communication systems, neuronal modeling, and generation of pseudorandom systems [20–23]. In this work, the modification in a multiscroll dynamics by means of controlling the associated nonlinear function is presented, introducing a new control parameter. This new control parameter helps to generate a specific number of scrolls, generating regions of coexisting attractors, as well as the generation of attractors with double-wing and three equilibrium points.This work is structured as follows: the first section contains an introduction that describes previous works and theoretical principles of the system. The second section shows the UDS definition and the description of the multiscroll generator system. In the third section, the methodology and results of the studied system are shown. The analysis of the bifurcation diagrams exhibits the coexistence of two attractors for fixed set parameters, bistability, which is illustrated by the construction of the corresponding basins of attractions. The main conclusions are shown in the last section.


## 2. Theoretical Background

### 2.1. Unstable Dissipative Systems Theory

In the same spirit as [13, 24, 25], it is considered as a system of autonomous differential equations of third order,
(1)Ẋ=AX+Bfx,where X=x,y,zT∈ℝ3 is the state vector, A=ai,j∈ℝ3×3 is a constant matrix, B=b1,b2,b3T∈ℝ3 is a constant position vector, and fx is a nonlinear function. The behavior of the system is governed by the eigenvalues of the matrix A, which generates a great variety of characteristic values, presenting special attention to those saddle-node points that have a stable and an unstable variety. This kind of eigenvalues is responsible for both stretching and successive folding in the dynamic of the system, which favors the generation of multiscrolls [14, 26].A system can be considered as an UDS type I if their equilibrium points correspond to a hyperbolic-saddle-node, i.e., one eigenvalue is negative real (dissipative component) and the other two are complex conjugated with positive real part (unstable and oscillatory component), where the sum of the components must be less than zero. By other side, an UDS type II, eq. (1), is described in the opposite way, i.e., one eigenvalue is positive real (unstable component) and the other two are complex conjugated with negative real part (dissipative and oscillatory component), and the sum of them must be less than zero [13].


### 2.2. Multiscroll Generator

The multiscroll generator system studied is described by a set of three coupled differential equations that makes use of the definition of a saturated nonlineal function, SNLF, as a method for the scroll generation [12, 27], eq. (2).
(2)ẋ=y,ẏ=z,ż=−α1x−α2y−α3z+α4fx,q,where x,y,z are the state variables, fx,q is the SNLF, q is the upper limit of scrolls to generate, and α1,2,3,4 are the system parameters that define the behavior of the dynamic. This work is focused on the region for which the system is defined as a UDS I. Within this proposition, the multiscroll appearance is possible, by generating a conservative component that causes the oscillation of the system over an equilibrium point, while the other two dissipative components favor the visit to other fixed points, resulting in the dynamics of a multiscroll system. The operation region of the system is defined by the combination of the system parameters, in this case, the following consideration is contemplated: α=α1=α2=α3=α4.Considering the previous condition, it is possible to examine the behavior of the equilibrium points by sweeping the control parameter and finding the operation zone where their eigenvalues are consistent with an UDS I definition. The control parameter variation is developed by means of the characteristic polynomial of the system described in eq. (2), λ3+αλ2+λ+1=0, and are plotted by considering the split of the real and imaginary component of each eigenvalue, λj=σj+iωj, j=1,2,3, being σj the real part, and ωj the imaginary part. Figure 1 shows the analysis of the eigenvalues over a range value defined as α=−2,2, Figure 1(a) shows the operation zone delimited by 0<α<1. Figures 1(b) and 1(c) confirm the conditions for the UDS I definition. λ1 the real negative eigenvalue, and λ2,3 the complex conjugated eigenvalues with positive real part.Figure 1
Eigenvalues analysis as a function of the control parameterα. (a) Control parameter analysis showing the UDS I region. (b) and (c) real and imaginary parts for the UDS I, respectively.
(a)
(b)
(c)It is well known [11, 12, 27] that it is possible to define a series of saturated functions, based on the behavior of an operational amplifier (op-amp) configured as voltage comparator, in order to generate as many plateaus (commutation surfaces) as desired, and thus guarantee the generation of the same number of scrolls. In general, the mathematical construction of a SNLF is defined as
(3)fxk,h,p,q=∑m=−pqfmxk,h,where k>0 is the slope that connects the plateaus in the saturated function, h>2 is the delay time of the saturated function, defined by the op-amp switching speed, p and q are positive integers defined as the smallest integer that result from dividing the number of scrolls by 2, m=1,2,3,…,n, where n defines the number of scrolls to generate. The function fx is defined as follows
(4)fmxk,h=2k,fx>mh+1,kx−mh+k,ifx−mh≤1,0,fx<mh−1,and
(5)fm−1xk,h=0,ifx>mh±1,kx±mh−k,ifx±mh≤1,−2k,ifx<−mh−1.Figure2 shows the graphical representation of eq. (4) and (5) (green) and their corresponding attractor (blue). The breakpoints are plotted with a red dotted line, where the system switches between the different generated commutation surfaces. At the middle of each switching surface, the equilibrium point is located, where each scroll oscillates. Figure 2(a) SNLF generated with n=5, whereas Figure 2(b) shows a SNLF with n=9. Notice the relation between the number of switching surfaces and generated scrolls.Figure 2
(a) Saturated nonlineal function withn=5 and its corresponding attractor of five multiscrolls. (b) Saturated nonlineal function with n=9 and its corresponding attractor of nine multiscrolls.
(a)
(b)The SNLF contemplated for this study is constructed based on [11], eq. (4) and (5), for the generation up to nine scrolls as in Figure 2(b), but it is studied with a new bifurcation parameter ζ, modifying the original system, eq. (2) [28, 29]. This new parameter works as an individual control gain for the nonlinear function. This allows the possibility to study the bifurcation diagrams for a defined set of parameters in the model and generates more than one single attractor. The modified system is described by
(6)ẋ=y,ẏ=z,ż=−αx+y+z−ζfx,q,where α is a control parameter and ζ is the bifurcation parameter. This modification allows to analyze the behavior of the system through numerical simulation in a better way. In this case, the implementation of an Rk4 integrator is used.


## 2.1. Unstable Dissipative Systems Theory

In the same spirit as [13, 24, 25], it is considered as a system of autonomous differential equations of third order,
(1)Ẋ=AX+Bfx,where X=x,y,zT∈ℝ3 is the state vector, A=ai,j∈ℝ3×3 is a constant matrix, B=b1,b2,b3T∈ℝ3 is a constant position vector, and fx is a nonlinear function. The behavior of the system is governed by the eigenvalues of the matrix A, which generates a great variety of characteristic values, presenting special attention to those saddle-node points that have a stable and an unstable variety. This kind of eigenvalues is responsible for both stretching and successive folding in the dynamic of the system, which favors the generation of multiscrolls [14, 26].A system can be considered as an UDS type I if their equilibrium points correspond to a hyperbolic-saddle-node, i.e., one eigenvalue is negative real (dissipative component) and the other two are complex conjugated with positive real part (unstable and oscillatory component), where the sum of the components must be less than zero. By other side, an UDS type II, eq. (1), is described in the opposite way, i.e., one eigenvalue is positive real (unstable component) and the other two are complex conjugated with negative real part (dissipative and oscillatory component), and the sum of them must be less than zero [13].


## 2.2. Multiscroll Generator

The multiscroll generator system studied is described by a set of three coupled differential equations that makes use of the definition of a saturated nonlineal function, SNLF, as a method for the scroll generation [12, 27], eq. (2).
(2)ẋ=y,ẏ=z,ż=−α1x−α2y−α3z+α4fx,q,where x,y,z are the state variables, fx,q is the SNLF, q is the upper limit of scrolls to generate, and α1,2,3,4 are the system parameters that define the behavior of the dynamic. This work is focused on the region for which the system is defined as a UDS I. Within this proposition, the multiscroll appearance is possible, by generating a conservative component that causes the oscillation of the system over an equilibrium point, while the other two dissipative components favor the visit to other fixed points, resulting in the dynamics of a multiscroll system. The operation region of the system is defined by the combination of the system parameters, in this case, the following consideration is contemplated: α=α1=α2=α3=α4.Considering the previous condition, it is possible to examine the behavior of the equilibrium points by sweeping the control parameter and finding the operation zone where their eigenvalues are consistent with an UDS I definition. The control parameter variation is developed by means of the characteristic polynomial of the system described in eq. (2), λ3+αλ2+λ+1=0, and are plotted by considering the split of the real and imaginary component of each eigenvalue, λj=σj+iωj, j=1,2,3, being σj the real part, and ωj the imaginary part. Figure 1 shows the analysis of the eigenvalues over a range value defined as α=−2,2, Figure 1(a) shows the operation zone delimited by 0<α<1. Figures 1(b) and 1(c) confirm the conditions for the UDS I definition. λ1 the real negative eigenvalue, and λ2,3 the complex conjugated eigenvalues with positive real part.Figure 1
Eigenvalues analysis as a function of the control parameterα. (a) Control parameter analysis showing the UDS I region. (b) and (c) real and imaginary parts for the UDS I, respectively.
(a)
(b)
(c)It is well known [11, 12, 27] that it is possible to define a series of saturated functions, based on the behavior of an operational amplifier (op-amp) configured as voltage comparator, in order to generate as many plateaus (commutation surfaces) as desired, and thus guarantee the generation of the same number of scrolls. In general, the mathematical construction of a SNLF is defined as
(3)fxk,h,p,q=∑m=−pqfmxk,h,where k>0 is the slope that connects the plateaus in the saturated function, h>2 is the delay time of the saturated function, defined by the op-amp switching speed, p and q are positive integers defined as the smallest integer that result from dividing the number of scrolls by 2, m=1,2,3,…,n, where n defines the number of scrolls to generate. The function fx is defined as follows
(4)fmxk,h=2k,fx>mh+1,kx−mh+k,ifx−mh≤1,0,fx<mh−1,and
(5)fm−1xk,h=0,ifx>mh±1,kx±mh−k,ifx±mh≤1,−2k,ifx<−mh−1.Figure2 shows the graphical representation of eq. (4) and (5) (green) and their corresponding attractor (blue). The breakpoints are plotted with a red dotted line, where the system switches between the different generated commutation surfaces. At the middle of each switching surface, the equilibrium point is located, where each scroll oscillates. Figure 2(a) SNLF generated with n=5, whereas Figure 2(b) shows a SNLF with n=9. Notice the relation between the number of switching surfaces and generated scrolls.Figure 2
(a) Saturated nonlineal function withn=5 and its corresponding attractor of five multiscrolls. (b) Saturated nonlineal function with n=9 and its corresponding attractor of nine multiscrolls.
(a)
(b)The SNLF contemplated for this study is constructed based on [11], eq. (4) and (5), for the generation up to nine scrolls as in Figure 2(b), but it is studied with a new bifurcation parameter ζ, modifying the original system, eq. (2) [28, 29]. This new parameter works as an individual control gain for the nonlinear function. This allows the possibility to study the bifurcation diagrams for a defined set of parameters in the model and generates more than one single attractor. The modified system is described by
(6)ẋ=y,ẏ=z,ż=−αx+y+z−ζfx,q,where α is a control parameter and ζ is the bifurcation parameter. This modification allows to analyze the behavior of the system through numerical simulation in a better way. In this case, the implementation of an Rk4 integrator is used.


## 3. Methodology and Results

Considering the restrictions of the system, eq. (6), given the region of operation under the conditions of an UDS I, the control parameter is analyzed in the interval 0.05≤α≤0.95 with a step size Δα=0.05.The dynamical system, eq. (6), is analyzed by a gradual change of the bifurcation parameter ζ for the different α values. For this purpose, the construction of bifurcation diagrams of local maximums of the state variable xt, are calculated by means of randomly changing the initial condition of the three state variables.Analyzing the dynamical system, Figure3, it is observed that the behavior of the different bifurcation diagrams has a dependence on the control parameter α, but obtaining in each one of them a control in the generation of multiscrolls. However, it is more interesting to describe the dynamical evolution that the system exhibits for a value α=0.45 in Figure 3(a). This is because the scrolls generation is produced gradually, obtaining a greater number of generated dynamics, unlike the behavior displayed in other values of the control parameter.Figure 3
Bifurcation diagram for the dynamical control parameter (a)α=0.45, (b) α=0.70, (c) α=0.90.
(a)
(b)
(c)The 9-scroll natural attractor regionΔζ is shown in Figure 4. At the left top of this figure, the last largest Lyapunov exponent (MLE) is shown, corresponding to the same bifurcation diagram. Notice that it is always a positive value, in concordance with UDS I definition. This bifurcation diagram is plotted by a color combination, where each color represents a different behavior in the system, related to the corresponding attractors displayed in Figure 5.Figure 4
Bifurcation diagram for the dynamical control parameterα=0.45.Figure 5
Space phase for each attractor identified into the bifurcation diagram, Figure4, for the control parameter α=0.45.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)Table1 describes the different behavior of the bifurcation diagram of Figure 4 as well as the corresponding attractors of Figure 5. The bistability referred in Table 1 indicates the coexistence of two identical attractors located at symmetrical equilibrium points. Notice that from Figures 5(j)–5(o) the bistable attractors are shown in the same phase space and plotted with different colors for easier visualization, i.e., in Figure 5(m) the pink scroll represents the lower part of the bifurcation diagram, while the red scroll is the upper part in the same diagram for 0.0670<ζ<0.0690.Table 1
Behavior analysis of Figures4 and 5.
ζ interval
Attractor type
Bistability
Fig.
0.0310–0.0320
Single-wing deformed
No
Figure5(a)
0.0320–0.0335
Single-wing
No
Figure5(b)
0.0335–0.0350
Single-wing deformed
No
Figure5(c)
0.0350–0.0420
Single-wing with 3 equilibrium points
No
Figure5(d)
0.0420–0.0500
3-scroll
No
Figure5(e)
0.0500–0.0510
5-scroll
No
Figure5(f)
0.0510–0.0520
7-scroll
No
Figure5(g)
0.0520–0.0530
8-scroll
No
Figure5(h)
0.0530–0.0570
9-scroll (natural attractor)
No
Figure5(i)
0.0570–0.0590
Single-wing
Yes
Figure5(j)
0.0590–0.0610
Coherent single-wing
Yes
Figure5(k)
0.0610–0.0670
Single-wing
Yes
Figure5(l)
0.0670–0.0690
Single-wing
Yes
Figure5(m)
0.0690–0.0740
Coherent single-wing
Yes
Figure5(n)
0.0740–0.0780
Coherent single-wing
Yes
Figure5(o)
0.0780–0.0820
Double-scroll with 3 equilibrium points
No
Figure5(p)


## 4. Discussion

With the premise that every UDS I system has large basins of attraction [30], the analysis of the dynamical system, eq. (6), is determined for each value of the dynamical parameter α, by means of the exploration of the bifurcation parameter ζ, being α=0.05 the first explored value.An analysis of the dynamical response of the natural system attractor (nine multiscrolls) in a bidimensional spaceαvsxci=yci=zci, where ci represents the initial condition, is shown in Figure 6. It can clearly be seen that meanwhile the α value is increased, the area of initial conditions grows (green points), while the nonexistence of the dynamical response is shown by every blue point. As a result, α=0.3 is the minimum value in which it is possible to perform the characterization of the system, eq. (6), as defined in the previous section. This fact limits the possible electronic implementation of the model.Figure 6
Bidimensional spaceαvsxci=yci=zci for the natural system attractor by means of the dynamical parameter modification.As in [28, 29], in this work, the bifurcation parameter ζ is dependent on the dynamical parameter α, as shown in Figure 3. This effect can be visualized in Figure 7(a) that shows the ration Δζ/ζα. As a result, the ration has a maximum point for α=0.3. The operation region relative size, ζα, is normalized to its ζαmax to improve the visualization, ζα/ζαmax, Figure 7(b). The values α<0.3 are omitted due to the results shown in Figure 6.Figure 7
(a) Ration curve of the 9-scroll operation zone and (b) normalized operation zone for every dynamical value.
(a)
(b)As a result of the bifurcation diagrams shown in Figures3 and 4 and to the bistable attractors shown in Figure 5, an analysis is developed in search of bistable behavior in all the control parameters of the system for which its response is defined as an UDS I. The study in search of bistable dynamics is developed in the following way: given a control parameter α, the bifurcation parameter ζ is fixed, and the basins of attraction of the system, eq. (6), are calculated under the modification of two of the three state variables for the space of initial conditions defined as x, y=−4,4, z=0. The results shown by the basins of attraction confirm the bistable behavior for any α value and are validated by analyzing the attractors generated for different explored initial conditions, Figure 8, where each column corresponds to a α value.Figure 8
(a–c) Basins of attraction for the coexisting coherent single-wing attractor. (d–i) Coexisting attractors for each basin of attraction. (j–l) Natural system attractor. (m–o) Return time distribution calculated by the Poincare section for the natural system attractor. Columns from left to right correspond toα=0.45, 0.70, 0.90.
(a)
(b)
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(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
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(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)Figures8(a)–8(c) shows three different basins of attraction calculated for different α values under the conditions for the generation of a coexisting coherent single-wing attractor. The corresponding coexisting attractors are plotted in Figures 8(d)–8(i), where the color of the attractor is related to the color in their corresponding basin of attraction.Analyzing the resulting basins of coexisting attractors, Figures8(a)–8(c), it is evident that while the dynamical parameter of the system is increased, the basin tends to look more defined, where the state borders are better distinguished. This means that for small values in α, the system requires a very small variation in the initial condition, or a very low noise level, to leave the actual state and converge to another coexisting equilibrium point. Meanwhile, for larger values in the dynamical parameter, the system obtains robustness by requiring significantly larger changes to leave one state and converge to another one. This phenomenon can be visualized if the return times of the attractor are calculated via the Poincaré section, from the natural attractors of each analyzed α value, Figures 8(j)–8(o). The distribution of these return times tends to gain some order similar to a normal distribution, Figure 8(o), becoming in softer transitions between each of the equilibrium points.


## 5. Conclusions

In this work, a multiscroll system of three-dimensional autonomous equations with a parameterζ has been presented and studied. The parameter ζ controls the number of generated scrolls, being up to nine the maximum number of scrolls using a saturated nonlineal function. The studied system exhibits the generation of emergent behaviors from a single-wing up to a 9-scroll attractor. On the other hand, bistable states such as a single scroll, coherent single-wing, and a monostable double-scroll attractor with three equilibrium points are also obtained. The understanding of the UDS I systems has also been extended, proving that these systems have considerably large basins of attraction, but not at every value where the system fully satisfies the requirements established by the UDS theory.The described model, in addition to involving a relatively easy implementation [27, 31], is able to control the number of scrolls to be generated, with the additional advantage of having bistable dynamics. This factor increases the potential technological applications, as in secure communication systems, neuronal systems, and control of electric motors with variable torque. The corresponding analogical implementation, in order to compare the presented results, is proposed as future work.



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