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Map Winding Number


The winding number W(theta) of a map f(theta) with initial value theta is defined by

 W(theta)=lim_(n->infty)(f^n(theta)-theta)/n,

which represents the average increase in the angle theta per unit time (average frequency). A system with a rational winding number W=p/q is mode-locked, whereas a system with an irrational winding number is quasiperiodic. Note that since the rationals are a set of zero measure on any finite interval, almost all winding numbers will be irrational, so almost all maps will be quasiperiodic.


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References

Rasband, S. N. Chaotic Dynamics of Nonlinear Systems. New York: Wiley, p. 129, 1990.

Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha

Map Winding Number

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Map Winding Number." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/MapWindingNumber.html

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