Quantifying the complexity of the delayed logistic map

Bandt-Pompe symbolization dynamics for time series with tied values: A data-driven approach

In 2002, Bandt and Pompe [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 174102 (2002)] introduced a successfully symbolic encoding scheme based on the ordinal relation between the amplitude of neighboring values of a given data sequence, from which the permutation entropy can be evaluated. Equalities in the analyzed sequence, for example, repeated equal values, deserve special attention and treatment as was shown recently by Zunino and co-workers [Phys. Lett. A 381, 1883 (2017)]. A significant number of equal values can give rise to false conclusions regarding the underlying temporal structures in practical contexts. In the present contribution, we review the different existing methodologies for treating time series with tied values by classifying them according to their different strategies. In addition, a novel data-driven imputation is presented that proves to outperform the existing methodologies and avoid the false conclusions pointed by Zunino and co-workers.

Two-parameter study of square-wave switching dynamics in orthogonally delay-coupled semiconductor lasers

We perform a detailed numerical analysis of square-wave (SW) polarization switching in two semiconductor lasers with time-delayed, orthogonal mutual coupling. An in-depth mapping of the dynamics in the two-parameter plane coupling strength versus frequency detuning shows that stable SWs occur in narrow parameter regions that are localized close to the boundary of stability of the pure-mode solution. In this steady state, the two coupled lasers emit orthogonal polarizations. We also show that there are various types of SW forms and that stable switching does not need the inclusion of noise or nonlinear gain in the model. As these narrow regions of deterministic and stable SWs occur for quite different combinations of parameters, they could potentially explain the waveforms that have been observed experimentally. However, on the other hand, these regions are narrow enough to be in fact considered as experimentally unreachable. Therefore, our results indicate that further experimental statistical studies are needed in order to distinguish deterministic and stationary square waveforms from long transients because of noise.

Complexity-entropy causality plane as a complexity measure for two-dimensional patterns

Complexity measures are essential to understand complex systems and there are numerous definitions to analyze one-dimensional data. However, extensions of these approaches to two or higher-dimensional data, such as images, are much less common. Here, we reduce this gap by applying the ideas of the permutation entropy combined with a relative entropic index. We build up a numerical procedure that can be easily implemented to evaluate the complexity of two or higher-dimensional patterns. We work out this method in different scenarios where numerical experiments and empirical data were taken into account. Specifically, we have applied the method to fractal landscapes generated numerically where we compare our measures with the Hurst exponent; liquid crystal textures where nematic-isotropic-nematic phase transitions were properly identified; 12 characteristic textures of liquid crystals where the different values show that the method can distinguish different phases; and Ising surfaces where our method identified the critical temperature and also proved to be stable.

Nonlinear dynamics in meso and nano scales: fundamental aspects and applications

This introduction to the special issue, Nonlinear dynamics in meso and nano scales: fundamental aspects and applications, gives a short overview about different contexts and current challenges posed by the emergence of nonlinearities at meso and nano characteristic sizes. It also addresses different aspects related to classical and quantum chaos. Moreover, it comments on the articles in this thematic publication, briefly summarizing their relevance in helping to understand the uprise of chaos and complex behaviour at those small scales.