Phase portrait
A phase portrait is a geometric representation of the trajectories of a dynamical system in the phase plane. Each set of initial conditions is represented by a different curve, or point.
Phase portraits are an invaluable tool in studying dynamical systems. They consist of a plot of typical trajectories in the state space. This reveals information such as whether an attractor, a repellor or limit cycle is present for the chosen parameter value. The concept of topological equivalence is important in classifying the behaviour of systems by specifying when two different phase portraits represent the same qualitative dynamic behavior. An attractor is a stable point which is also called 'sink'. The repellor is considered as an unstable point, which is also known as 'source'.
A phase portrait graph of a dynamical system depicts the system's trajectories and stable steady states and unstable steady states in a state space. The axes are of state variables.
Examples
- Simple pendulum, see picture.
- Simple harmonic oscillator where the phase portrait is made up of ellipses centred at the origin, which is a fixed point.
- Van der Pol oscillator see picture.
- Parameter plane and Mandelbrot set
Phase Portraits to Visualize Behavior of Systems of Ordinary Differential Equations
| Unstable | Most of the system's solutions tend towards ∞ over time |
| Asymptotically stable | All of the system's solutions tend to 0 over time |
| Neutrally stable | None of the system's solutions tend towards ∞ over time, but most solutions do not tend towards 0 either |
The phase portrait behavior of a system of ODEs can be determined by the eigenvalues or the trace and determinant of the system.
| Eigenvalue, Trace, Determinant | Phase Portrait Shape |
| λ1 & λ2 are real and of opposite sign; Determinant < 0 | Saddle |
| λ1 & λ2 are real and of the same sign, and λ1 ≠ λ2; 0 < determinant < | Node |
| λ1 & λ2 have both a real and imaginary component; 0 < < determinant | Spiral |