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Standard map

Standard map is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Standard map rather than just read about it. In short: The standard map (also known as the Chirikov–Taylor map or as the Chirikov standard map) is an area-preserving chaotic map from a square with side 2 π {\displaystyle 2\pi } onto itself. It is constructed by a Poincaré's surface of section of the kicked rotator, and is defined by: p n + 1 = p n + K sin ⁡ ( θ n ) {\displaystyle p_{n+1}=p_{n}+K\sin(\theta _{n})} θ n + 1 = θ n + p n + 1 {\displaystyle \theta _{n+1}=\the…

Standard map — main illustration
Standard map — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Standard map belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Standard map to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Standard map from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The standard map (also known as the Chirikov–Taylor map or as the Chirikov standard map) is an area-preserving chaotic map from a square with side 2 π {\displaystyle 2\pi } onto itself. It is constructed by a Poincaré's surface of section of the kicked rotator, and is defined by:

p n + 1 = p n + K sin ⁡ ( θ n ) {\displaystyle p_{n+1}=p_{n}+K\sin(\theta _{n})}

θ n + 1 = θ n + p n + 1 {\displaystyle \theta _{n+1}=\theta _{n}+p_{n+1}}

where p n {\displaystyle p_{n}} and θ n {\displaystyle \theta _{n}} are taken modulo 2 π {\displaystyle 2\pi } . The properties of chaos of the standard map were established by Boris Chirikov in 1969.

Physical model This map describes the Poincaré's surface of section of the motion of a simple mechanical system known as the kicked rotator. The kicked rotator consists of a stick that is free of the gravitational force, which can rotate frictionlessly in a plane around an axis located in one of its tips, and which is periodically kicked on the other tip. The standard map is a surface of section applied by a stroboscopic projection on the variables of the kicked rotator. The variables θ n {\displaystyle \theta _{n}} and p n {\displaystyle p_{n}} respectively determine the angular position of the stick and its angular momentum after the n-th kick. The constant K measures the intensity of the kicks on the kicked rotator. The kicked rotator approximates systems studied in the fields of mechanics of particles, accelerator physics, plasma physics, and solid state physics. For example, circular particle accelerators accelerate particles by applying periodic kicks, as they circulate in the beam tube. Thus, the structure of the beam can be approximated by the kicked rotor. However, this map is interesting from a fundamental point of view in physics and mathematics because it is a very simple model of a conservative system that displays Hamiltonian chaos. It is therefore useful to study the development of chaos in this kind of system.

Main properties For K = 0 {\displaystyle K=0} the map is linear and only periodic and quasiperiodic orbits are possible. When plotted in phase space (the θ–p plane), periodic orbits appear as closed curves, and quasiperiodic orbits as necklaces of closed curves whose centers lie in another larger closed curve. Which type of orbit is observed depends on the map's initial conditions. Nonlinearity of the map increases with K, and with it the possibility to observe chaotic dynamics for appropriate initial conditions. This is illustrated in the figure, which displays a collection of different orbits allowed to the standard map for various values of K > 0 {\displaystyle K>0} . All the orbits shown are periodic or quasiperiodic, with the exception of the green one that is chaotic and develops in a large region of phase space as an apparently random set of points. Particularly remarkable is the extreme uniformity of the distribution in the chaotic region, although this can be deceptive: even within the chaotic regions, there are an infinite number of diminishingly small islands that are never visited during iteration, as shown in the close-up.

Circle map The standard map is related to the circle map, which has a single, similar iterated equation:

θ n + 1 = θ n + Ω − K sin ⁡ ( θ n ) {\displaystyle \theta _{n+1}=\theta _{n}+\Omega -K\sin(\theta _{n})}

as compared to

θ n + 1 = θ n + p n + K sin ⁡ ( θ n ) {\displaystyle \theta _{n+1}=\theta _{n}+p_{n}+K\sin(\theta _{n})}

p n + 1 = θ n + 1 − θ n {\displaystyle p_{n+1}=\theta _{n+1}-\theta _{n}}

for the standard map, the equations reordered to emphasize similarity. In essence, the circle map forces the momentum to a constant.

See also Ushiki's theorem

Notes

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Standard map: Orbits of the standard map for K = 0.6.
Orbits of the standard map for K = 0.6.
Standard map: Orbits of the standard map for K = 0.971635.
Orbits of the standard map for K = 0.971635.
Standard map: Orbits of the standard map for K = 1.2.
Orbits of the standard map for K = 1.2.
Standard map: Orbits of the standard map for K = 2.0. The large green region is the main chaotic region of the map.
Orbits of the standard map for K = 2.0. The large green region is the main chaotic region of the map.
Standard map: A single orbit of the standard map for K=2.0. Magnified close-up centered at 
  
    
      
        θ
        =
        0.282
      
    
    {\displaystyle \theta =0.282}
  
, p = 0.666, of total width/height 0.02. Note the extremely uniform distribution of the orbit.
A single orbit of the standard map for K=2.0. Magnified close-up centered at θ = 0.282 {\displaystyle \theta =0.282} , p = 0.666, of total width/height 0.02. Note the extremely uniform distribution of the orbit.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Standard map

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Standard map claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Standard map before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Standard map ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Standard map

In research
Standard map appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Standard map in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Standard map is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Chaotic maps, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Standard map outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Standard map in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Standard map means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Standard map out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Standard map in simple terms?

The standard map (also known as the Chirikov–Taylor map or as the Chirikov standard map) is an area-preserving chaotic map from a square with side 2 π {\displaystyle 2\pi } onto itself. It is constructed by a Poincaré's surface of section of the kicked rotator, and is defined by: p n + 1 = p n + K…

Why does Standard map matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Standard map?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Standard map.

Tags

  • Chaotic maps

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