Intermittency

For other uses, see Intermittent power source.

In dynamical systems, intermittency is the alternation of phases of apparently periodic and chaotic dynamics.

In the apparently periodic phases the behaviour is not quite, but only nearly periodic. Thus, rather than a (truly periodic) series of values such as 2, 4, 2, 4, ... one might have something like 2.0001, 4.0003, 2.0002, 4.0001, 2.0003, 3.9999, 1.8715, 6.7486, ... where the first six values are apparently periodic but where the actually chaotic nature of the system becomes apparent after the value 3.9999 is reached.

Intermittency factor is the fraction of time that motion is turbulent, denoted $\mu$.

In technology, in particular electronics, an intermittent fault, sometimes called just an "intermittent", is one that does not manifest continuously. These faults are particularly difficult to detect, as they may occur at times when a system is in use, but not when attempts are made to repair it.

See also

• Turbulent flow
• Fluorescence intermittency (blinking) of organic molecules and colloidal quantum dots (nanocrystals)

References

• Staicu, A. D. (2002). Intermittency in Turbulence (PDF). University of Technology Eindhoven.
• Vassilicos, J. C. (2000). Intermittency in turbulent flows. Cambridge University Press. p. 288. Bibcode:2000itf..book.....V. ISBN 0521792215.

External links

• Transition to chaos through intermittency