Fast instability indicator in few dimensional dynamical systems

Abstract

Using the tools of Differential Geometry, we define a new <<fast>> chaoticity indicator, able to detect dynamical instability of trajectories much more effectively, (i.e. "quickly") than the usual tools, like Lyapunov Characteristic Numbers (LCN's) or Poincare` Surface of Section. Moreover, at variance with other "fast" indicators proposed in the Literature, it gives informations about the asymptotic behaviour of trajectories, though being local in phase-space. Furthermore, it detects the chaotic or regular nature of geodesics without any reference to a given perturbation and it allows also to discriminate between different regimes (and possibly sources) of chaos in distinct regions of phase-space.