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Why must the sum of Lyapunov exponents be negative for dissipative systems?

For dissipative systems, the total sum of all Lyapunov exponents is negative. This expresses net contraction of phase-space volume even if some individual directions expand.

Conditions

  • System is dissipative.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Recall that Lyapunov exponents measure the exponential rate of stretching or compression along different directions.
  2. Summing all nn exponents gives the net rate of change of the phase-space volume.
  3. For a dissipative system, the phase-space volume must contract over time.
  4. Therefore, the sum of the Lyapunov exponents must be negative.

Example

The fourth slide bullet reads “∑λi<0\sum \lambda_i < 0 for dissipative systems”. The audio states, “That means that the sum of the Lyapunov exponents has to be negative.”

Common misconceptions

  • Thinking that a dissipative system cannot have any positive Lyapunov exponents.
  • Confusing the sum of exponents with the individual signs of the exponents.

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