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Crash course in DsTool

The Models menu contains the models that you can load into dstool_tk. By default dstool_tk load the Lorenz system.

The Panels menu contains the computational options, a selection of which is described below.

Two-D
This window shows two-dimensional projections of the phase space cross the parameter space (and extra functions defined by the user). By default the first two variables of the system are shown. Click with the left mouse button in this window to select an intial condition (other variables and parameters remain unchanged). A click with the middle mouse button will then start the computation of an orbit using the selected initial conditions.


Selected
All initial conditions, both parameters and variables, are given in this window. Once you computed an orbit, the final point will be shown in the column on the right. Copy final to initial results in copying this last point to be the initial condition. For example, check the numerical sensitivity by computing a forward orbit, copying the final point, and subsequently computing the backward orbit. The two orbits should be identical, but typically, they are not.


Orbits
The Orbits window shows the constants used to compute forward and backward orbits. The default is 5000 integrations with step size 0.01 plotting every point starting from the selected one. Forward orbits are computed by clicking on Forwards and continued by clicking Continue after that. Going backward, click Backwards, results in computing the backward orbit starting from the initial condition in the Selected window (under the Panels menu).

"Strobing at the forcing frequency" as suggested in the parametrically forced damped pendulum, is done by changing Fixed steps to Poincare section. In the model file an extra function called Period is defined that is 0 exactly at full periods of the forcing. Select this function, requesting it to be equal to 0, by clicking on the little square button next to it. Computing 5000 points on the Poincare section typically takes quite a long time; you may want to try 500 points or so first. On the other hand, Max steps between sections should be relatively large; 5000 is fine.



Fixed points
Finding fixed points should be straightforward. Note that dstool_tk cannot find fixed points of a Poincare sections. Fixed points that are found are printed in the window from which you started dstool_tk, including information on the eigenvalues and the type.

One-dimensional manifolds can be added. You probably want to increase the stable manifold steps and unstable manifold steps to 2000 or more.


Written by Hinke Osinga
Last modified: Tue Mar 30 18:48:25 1999