Chua’s Circuit within an Analog Computer - Part 1: Introduction

A workshop about Chua’s Circuit within the analog computer Confetti to generate chaotic signals, noise and sound.

In the 1970th Edward Lorenz developed a mathematical model for weather and climate prediction: the Lorenz Attractor, a kind of strange attractor with chaotic behavior and sensible initials conditions. Figuratively speaking: the flap of a butterfly’s wing could lead to a tornado in Brazil - the so called Butterfly Effect.

Still in the 80th it was not possible to compute this formula within an analog computer, the chips for doing the multiplications were to noisy. That’s why in 1983 Leon O. Chua introduced a much simpler solution, without multiplication but with the same chaotic behavior: the Chua’s Circuit.

Because this circuit can create chaotic signals over a wide range of frequencies it is an interesting device for sound production and performances.

Chua’s Circuit can be made out of two modules of the analog computer Confetti - a modular system that makes it possible to perform all kind of electronic computations.

In the workshop we will learn the basic principles of an analog computer. We also will build the two main components for Chua’s Circuit a Gyrator and a Chua’s Diode. And with these two modules we will create a circuit in order to listen to the butterfly in our tornado.

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

Introduction (online):
I will give a 90 minute online introduction and tell the basics about building the Chua’s Circuit.

Building Phase (offline):
Every participant will build his two Confetti boards, or build the circuit on a bread board.

Test, Debug and Exchange (online):
The next day we will test, debug and discuss online our Chua’s Circuits, we will make sound and visualize it, too.

HOW TO GET READY FOR THE WORKSHOP?
Check here Wolfgangs TUTORIAL, but most important: check the COMPONENT LIST ASAP!
here a Link to mauser shopping list (DE & AT) / and here a PDF LIST