Nullcline Explained
In mathematical analysis, nullclines, sometimes called zero-growth isoclines, are encountered in a system of ordinary differential equations
where
here represents a
derivative of
with respect to another parameter, such as time
. The
'th nullcline is the geometric shape for which
. The equilibrium points of the system are located where all of the nullclines intersect.In a two-dimensional
linear system, the nullclines can be represented by two lines on a two-dimensional plot; in a general two-dimensional system they are arbitrary curves.
History
The definition, though with the name ’directivity curve’, was used in a 1967 article by Endre Simonyi.[1] This article also defined 'directivity vector' as
,where P and Q are the dx/dt and dy/dt differential equations, and i and j are the x and y direction unit vectors.
Simonyi developed a new stability test method from these new definitions, and with it he studied differential equations. This method, beyond the usual stability examinations, provided semi-quantitative results.
Notes
- E. Simonyi – M. Kaszás: Method for the Dynamic Analysis of Nonlinear Systems, Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering – Chemisches Ingenieurwesen, Polytechnical University Budapest, 1969
External links
Notes and References
- E. Simonyi: The Dynamics of the Polymerization Processes, Periodica Polytechnica Electrical Engineering – Elektrotechnik, Polytechnical University Budapest, 1967
