Computing Feigenbaum's δ constant using the Ricker map.

The Feigenbaum constant δ is frequently met by students in a first course on chaos, and discussed with reference to the period doubling within the logistic map. The details of the actual calculation of δ are, however, nontrivial, and form the basis for an undergraduate project which may be used to develop skills in discrete maps and numerical methods. This paper considers how the Ricker map can be used to evaluate δ, and also suggests a number of problems which can be solved by students along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]