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What is the ordering convention for Lyapunov exponents?

Lyapunov exponents are ordered by value from largest to smallest, not by absolute value. Thus λ1\lambda_1 is the exponent closest to positive infinity and λn\lambda_n is the exponent closest to negative infinity.

Conditions

  • n is the dimension of the dynamical system
  • Ordering is by real value, not magnitude

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Identify all nn Lyapunov exponents of the system.
  2. Sort them by their actual real values on the number line.
  3. Assign the largest value (closest to positive infinity) to λ1\lambda_1.
  4. Assign the next largest to λ2\lambda_2, and so on.
  5. Assign the smallest value (closest to negative infinity) to λn\lambda_n.

Example

The speaker explicitly says the ordering is by closeness to positive infinity, not by magnitude, and identifies λn\lambda_n as closest to negative infinity. The blue handwritten vertical list shows λ1\lambda_1, λ2\lambda_2, vertical dots, λn\lambda_n.

Common misconceptions

  • Confusing largest value with largest absolute value.
  • Assuming λ1\lambda_1 is always positive.

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