Understanding nonlinear dynamics

Mathematics is increasingly vital in the physical and biological sciences, leading to a blending of scientific disciplines and a renewed interest in both modern and classical applied mathematics techniques. This resurgence has sparked the creation of the Texts in Applied Mathematics (TAM) series, which addresses the growing demand for new courses driven by excitement at the research frontier. Innovative techniques like numerical and symbolic computer systems, dynamical systems, and chaos theory are now integrated with traditional applied mathematics methods. TAM aims to fulfill the current and future educational needs arising from these advancements, offering textbooks suitable for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses. This series will complement the Applied Mathematical Sciences (AMS) series, which focuses on advanced textbooks and research-level monographs. Daniel Kaplan, one of the authors, specializes in data analysis using techniques inspired by nonlinear dynamics. His primary focus is interpreting irregular physiological rhythms, but his methods have been applied in geophysics, economics, marine ecology, and other fields. Kaplan joined McGill University in 1991 after earning his Ph.D. from Harvard and working at MIT, following his undergraduate studies at Swarthmore College. He has collaborated with instrumentation companies to create innovative medical monitoring devices.