Multimedia Gallery
Torus I
Torus I
"Torus I," from the Gallery of Eric J. Heller. Explanation of image, as taken from Heller Gallery: This image is a three dimensional image (plotted in two dimension) of a four dimensional object. When classical motion of particles is not chaotic, we say it is integrable; it can be confined to the surface of donut-shaped objects or "tori" which live in four or more dimensions. We cannot accurately represent such objects on the two-dimensional surface of an image. But we can try. The twisting surface seen here follows a torus wrapped around a simpler, larger torus. This corresponds to a classical resonance, in which one kind of motion efficiently exchanges energy back and forth with another.
Heller's work was included in the exhibit "Approaching Chaos," shown at the National Science Foundation (NSF) headquarters in Arlington, Va., July thru October 2002, as part of "The Art of Science Project." The Art of Science Project was conceived and implemented by a cross-directorate committee of NSF staff. Its purpose is to bring to NSF, original works of art that visually explore the connections between artistic and scientific expression.
This image is copyright and was included in the NSF Multimedia Gallery with permission from the owner. See "Restrictions" below regarding use of this image. [Research supported by Harvard's NSEC (NSF) grant.] (Date of Image: 2001)
Credit: Eric J. Heller, Harvard University
Special Restrictions: Copyright 2001 Eric J. Heller; not for publication without permission of author. Contact at mailto:slheller@comcast.net.
Images and other media in the National Science Foundation Multimedia Gallery are available for use in print and electronic material by NSF employees, members of the media, university staff, teachers and the general public. All media in the gallery are intended for personal, educational and nonprofit/non-commercial use only.
Images credited to the National Science Foundation, a federal agency, are in the public domain. The images were created by employees of the United States Government as part of their official duties or prepared by contractors as "works for hire" for NSF. You may freely use NSF-credited images and, at your discretion, credit NSF with a "Courtesy: National Science Foundation" notation.
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