Willy Wriggers. Deterministisches Chaos und Himmelsmechanik (Deterministic Chaos and Celestial Mechanics) Parts 1 + 2. Rosa Ursina (Quarterly Magazine of the Astronomischer Arbeitskreis Ingolstadt, Germany) 1991, Issue 3 pp. 8-16, and Issue 4 pp. 8-17.
These two review articles in German provide an introduction to nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory (part 1) and an overview of computer simulations of planetary systems (part 2). Rosa Ursina is a well-respected amateur astronomical magazine published in Germany by Astronomischer Arbeitskreis Ingolstadt.
Some personal comments by Willy Wriggers (September 5, 2012):
- The figures in part 1 were created with software I wrote as a physics student at Regensburg University.
- Although not widely circulated and not formally peer reviewed, these are my first published papers and also the only manuscripts that bridge between my early interest in astronomy and my later professional interest in computer simulations.
- Astronomischer Arbeitskreis Ingolstadt operated an observatory on top of my high school (Apiangymnasium Ingolstadt) and provided public tours. I was attracted by the activities and joined the club in 1980 at age 12. Approximately 1985-1987 I served as editor-in-chief of Rosa Ursina magazine, and 1987-1990 I taught adult education courses in star development and cosmology at Volkshochschule Ingolstadt. The interest in astronomy in my youth laid the foundation for my scientific career.
- In high school I had a strong affinity to chemistry, math, and physics, but I did not have access to a computer until I started studying physics at age 21 (two years before writing these articles). Despite my late start in computing I moved on to become an assistant professor in computational biology at age 31. My biography and my experience with students suggest that a strong scientific / mathematical vocation is more important than screen time!
[Article Part 1 PDF] [Article Part 2 PDF]
