LAUSR

Abstract A new three-dimensional autonomous chaotic system is proposed. This new system can generate single-scroll, double-scroll, three-scroll and four-scroll attractors under different system parameters. Particularly, it can generate a four-scroll chaotic attractor composed of a large Chua-like attractor and a small Lorenz-like attractor. And the system can also generate a nested three-scroll attractor and the multi-double-scroll chaotic attractor. In addition, the system possesses the chaotic state transition, and the number of scrolls will change in the state transition process. The formation mechanism of the composite four-scroll chaotic attractor is analyzed in detail. The dynamic analysis methods include time series, 0–1 test chart, phase diagram, bifurcation diagram and Lyapunov exponents are used to describe some basic dynamics behaviors of the proposed system.