Fractals

These simulators were built for Michael Frame at Yale University. His Fractal Geometry website provides complete course materials.

More of these simulators may deserve "Most Popular" listing, but I don't have usage statistics from the Yale host site. Fractal Music Composer is hosted at my site, instead, and it's one of my most popular apps.

Differential Equation Plotter

The DiffEQPlotter explores graphical solutions to differential equation systems. Nine equation system families are provided - some simple algebraic systems, some ecology models, and some limit cycles. Each can be tuned by setting constants. Paired time plot and phase plot show the behavior of the system (trajectory) from any selected starting point. The phase plot also shows the "nullclines" (where the derivative of each equation is zero), and a vector field showing the tendency of the system across a grid over the plane.

Though not "fractals" software, it was developed for the same mathematics professor, Michael Frame of Yale University.

Original: 
August, 2012

FracStats

FracStats does R/S analysis and comparison to a normal distribution, on a time series, with or without difference processing on the input data. Also does multifractal analysis (f(alpha) curves) on time series or planar data, using either the method of moments or histogram method. Several data sets are supplied, but the main use is to paste in your own data to explore.

July 2012: Fixed pasting-my-data to work again, following Oracle/Java deciding that was a security risk. Now uses signed jars and JWS to bypass new security feature.

Original: 
May, 2005
Revised: 
July, 2012

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DrivenIFS

DrivenIFS explores data-driven Iterated Function Systems.

July 2012: Fixed pasting-my-data to work again, following Oracle/Java deciding that was a security risk. Now uses signed jars and JWS to bypass new security feature.

Original: 
August, 2002
Revised: 
July, 2012

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IFS with Memory

IFS with Memory applies selected sequences of affine transforms, subdividing an ancestral square, to generate fractal pictures. Sequence selection is in 2D or 3D.

Original: 
July, 2004
Revised: 
February, 2008

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Random IFS with Memory

Random IFS with Memory runs iterated function systems on an initial point. The user can set allowed/disallowed sequences of transforms in 1-step or 2-step memory.

Original: 
October, 2004
Revised: 
February, 2008

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Box Dimension

Box Dimension explores the idea of fractal dimension by counting boxes along geographical edges. Latest version allows user to supply his own pictures.

Original: 
October, 2002
Revised: 
November, 2007

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Mandelbrot-Julia Sets

Mandelbrot-Julia Sets explores the famous Mandelbrot Set and its associated Julia Sets with paired plots. Each point of a Mandelbrot set generates a Julia set. Includes Julia orbits, several color schemes, and alternate functions besides the usual z2.

I also have a simpler Flash version. This was written as an ActionScript 3 performance test.

Original: 
May, 2004
Revised: 
October, 2007

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L-Systems

Aristid Lindenmayer, a botanist, invented L-Systems to describe plant development. L-Systems generates 2-d fractal images, including plant-like branching structures, and familiar fractals such as the Koch curve and Sierpinski gasket.The user can alter the rules, colors, and specify error and variation in the rule application.

Original: 
April, 2003
Revised: 
May, 2007

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Limit Sets of Circle Inversions

Limit Sets of Circle Inversions generates fractals from a set of input circles.

Original: 
April, 2003
Revised: 
May, 2007

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Circle Inversion

In Circle Inversion, a user drawn picture is inverted over one or more circles.

Original: 
June, 2003
Revised: 
May, 2007

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