Hidden chaotic attractors in Chua's circuit pose threats to engineering applications.
The article uncovers hidden chaotic attractors in a modified Chua's circuit with a smooth cubic nonlinearity. By conducting a thorough computer search, the researchers identified these coexisting attractors, which exhibit an inversion symmetry. The study shows that tiny changes in initial conditions or system parameters can lead to jumps between different attractors, posing challenges for engineering applications. The circuit's equilibrium points transition from unstable to stable, generating both self-excited and hidden attractors simultaneously. This research sheds light on the complex dynamics of the smooth cubic Chua's circuit and its potential implications for practical use.