Ruth and Irving Adler Expository Lecture in Mathematics

The Lorenz differential equations, a system of non-linear ODE's in 3 space variables and time, have become well-known as the prototypical chaotic dynamical system with a `strange attractor'. A periodic orbit in the associated flow on $\mathbb R^3$ is a closed curve in $\mathbb R^3$, and it turns out that (with some well-understood exceptions) the orbits are naturally knotted. They are known as `Lorenz knots', and they turn out to be a most interesting family. Even more, recent work has shown that Lorenz knots play a role in more parts of mathematics than anyone had anticipated, and have unexpected meaning therein.