In mathematics, the mandelbox is a fractal with a boxlike shape found by Tom Lowe in 2010. It is defined in a similar way to the famous Mandelbrot set as the values of a parameter such that the origin does not escape to infinity under iteration of certain geometrical transformations. The mandelbox is defined as a map of continuous Julia sets, but, unlike the Mandelbrot set, can be defined in any number of dimensions.[1] It is typically drawn in three dimensions for illustrative purposes.[2][3]

A three-dimensional Mandelbox fractal of scale 2.
A "scale-2" Mandelbox
A three-dimensional Mandelbox fractal of scale 3.
A "scale-3" Mandelbox
A three-dimensional Mandelbox fractal of scale -1.5.
A "scale -1.5" Mandelbox

Simple definition

edit

The simple definition of the mandelbox is this: repeatedly transform a vector z, according to the following rules:

  1. First, for each component c of z (which corresponds to a dimension), if c is greater than 1, subtract it from 2; or if c is less than -1, subtract it from −2.
  2. Then, depending on the magnitude of the vector, change its magnitude using some fixed values and a specified scale factor.

Generation

edit

The iteration applies to vector z as follows:[clarification needed]

function iterate(z):
    for each component in z:
        if component > 1:
            component := 2 - component
        else if component < -1:
            component := -2 - component

    if magnitude of z < 0.5:
        z := z * 4
    else if magnitude of z < 1:
        z := z / (magnitude of z)^2
   
    z := scale * z + c

Here, c is the constant being tested, and scale is a real number.[3]

Properties

edit

A notable property of the mandelbox, particularly for scale −1.5, is that it contains approximations of many well known fractals within it.[4][5][6]

For   the mandelbox contains a solid core. Consequently, its fractal dimension is 3, or n when generalised to n dimensions.[7]

For   the mandelbox sides have length 4 and for   they have length  .[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Lowe, Tom. "What Is A Mandelbox?". Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. ^ Lowe, Thomas (2021). Exploring Scale Symmetry. Fractals and Dynamics in Mathematics, Science, and the Arts: Theory and Applications. Vol. 06. World Scientific. doi:10.1142/11219. ISBN 978-981-3278-55-4. S2CID 224939666.
  3. ^ a b Leys, Jos (27 May 2010). "Mandelbox. Images des Mathématiques" (in French). French National Centre for Scientific Research. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Negative 1.5 Mandelbox – Mandelbox". sites.google.com.
  5. ^ "More negatives – Mandelbox". sites.google.com.
  6. ^ "Patterns of Visual Math – Mandelbox, tglad, Amazing Box". February 13, 2011. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Chen, Rudi. "The Mandelbox Set".
edit