https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-20799-5
Regular Article
A new deterministic model for chaotic reversals
Department of Astrophysical Sciences/Princeton Plasma Physics Lab,
5 Peyton Hall, Princeton University, 08544
Princeton
NJ,
USA
a
e-mail: cgissing@princeton.edu
Received: 29 September 2011
Received in final form: 10 January 2012
Published online: 26 April 2012
We present a new chaotic system of three coupled ordinary differential equations, limited to quadratic nonlinear terms. A wide variety of dynamical regimes are reported. For some parameters, chaotic reversals of the amplitudes are produced by crisis-induced intermittency, following a mechanism different from what is generally observed in similar deterministic models. Despite its simplicity, this system therefore generates a rich dynamics, able to model more complex physical systems. In particular, a comparison with reversals of the magnetic field of the Earth shows a surprisingly good agreement, and highlights the relevance of deterministic chaos to describe geomagnetic field dynamics.
Key words: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag, 2012