Templex-based dynamical units for a taxonomy of chaos

Abstract

Discriminating different types of chaos is still a very challenging topic, even for dissipative three-dimensional systems for which the most advanced tool is the template. Nevertheless, getting a template is, by definition, limited to three-dimensional objects based on knot theory. To deal with higher-dimensional chaos, we recently introduced the templex combining a flow-oriented BraMAH cell complex and a directed graph (a digraph). There is no dimensional limitation in the concept of templex. Here, we show that a templex can be automatically reduced into a “minimal” form to provide a comprehensive and synthetic view of the main properties of chaotic attractors. This reduction allows for the development of a taxonomy of chaos in terms of two elementary units: the oscillating unit (O-unit) and the switching unit (S-unit). We apply this approach to various well-known attractors (Rössler, Lorenz, and Burke–Shaw) as well as a non-trivial four-dimensional attractor. A case of toroidal chaos (Deng) is also treated.