| Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, Vol. 13, Iss. 3, Jul, 2009, pp. 249-256 @2009 Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology & Life Sciences The State of the Science of Nonlinear Dynamics in 1963 Abstract: When Edward Lorenz published his paper in 1963 on the deterministic
nonperiodic solutions present in what is now called the "Lorenz Equations,"
he did so in the context of a rich theory of nonlinear dynamics beginning
with the work of Poincare. Here we trace the influences present in his work
as well as provide a snapshot of the nonlinear world in 1963 to explain why
his paper had such a pervasive effect on the science of nonlinear dynamics and
its applications. In doing this, we also discover the critical timing of the
development of the computer in this effort. Keywords: Lorenz, Poincare, history, nonlinear dynamics |