Honorable Mention, 2018

The creator of this image aims to discover unexpected connections between chaos and electronics, leading to novel, powerful devices. Three examples of particles ricocheting off a well show the qualitative difference between chaos and order. In each example, a particle trajectory enters in black from below and evolves to blue over time. If the particle exits, it reenters using special iterated lattice scattering rules. The left plot shows chaos, with no discernible pattern of movement. The middle plot shows quasi-periodicity, meaning restricted movement (restricted to an area that avoids the well) but otherwise free. The right plot shows periodicity, restricted not just to an area but to a single path. The distribution of these behaviors reflects deeper symmetries that can manifest as altered properties in electronic systems.

Credit:
Max Porter
Physics Graduate Student