The evolution of a novel four-dimensional autonomous system: Among 3-torus, limit cycle, 2-torus, chaos and hyperchaos

In this paper, a novel four-dimensional autonomous system in which each equation contains a quadratic cross-product term is constructed. It exhibits extremely rich dynamical behaviors, including 3-tori (triple tori), 2-tori (quasi-periodic), limit cycles (periodic), chaotic and hyperchaotic attractors. In particular, we observe 3-torus phenomena, which have been rarely reported in four-dimensional autonomous systems in previous work. With the parameter r varying in quite a wide range, the evolution process of the system begins from 3-tori, and after going through a series of periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic attractors in so many different shapes coming into being alternately, it evolves into hyperchaos, finally it degenerates to periodic attractor. Moreover, when the system is hyperchaotic, its two positive Lyapunov exponents are much larger than those of the hyperchaotic systems already reported, especially the largest Lyapunov exponents. We also observe a chaotic attractor of it very special shape. The complex dynamical behaviors of the system are further investigated by means of Lyapunov exponents spectrum, bifurcation diagram and phase portraits. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.