1. Introduction
In the 1960s and 1970s, Benoit B. Mandelbrot noticed that computers made some errors while he was working at IBM. He saw a recurring pattern when he divided the time scalars of these errors into months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. At this point, he created new images using graphics computer code and gave the gift of a new term fractal to the literature. This led to the development of a completely different branch of mathematics. Moreover, Mandelbrot discovered the most famous fractal of mathematics in 1982 and produced the first pictures of this fractal, [
1,
2]. Subsequently, Douady and Hubbard [
3] named this fractal the Mandelbrot set. After this discovery, the topological, algebraic, algorithmic, or visual properties of this fractal were investigated in detail by many researchers with different approaches. It is still an attractive study area. Those who came after Mandelbrot did not just obtain a lot of striking results related to this famous set but also generalized it in various ways. Generalizing the Mandelbrot set is a relatively new problem. There are some generalization methods, and the remarkable ones are the modifications on the order of polynomial representation, escape time algorithm, or iterated function system such as the studies of Gujar and Bhavsar [
4] and Papathomas and Julesz [
5]. The generalized Mandelbrot (also called Multibrot) sets have been considered in detail for the cases of degree
d of the map to be an integer, non-integer, positive, or negative in the literature [
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12]. Especially, the case of
was addressed by Parisé and Rochon in [
13], and
is called a Mandelbric set.
While all these developments continue, the graphical exploration of noise-perturbed fractal sets began to be investigated starting in the mid-1980s. The notion of noise has been studied widely based on the idea of making perfectly deterministic systems improbable in real life since stochastic noise is present in most systems. Dynamical noise is the term for noise that interferes with a dynamical system’s evolution. Depending on how the dynamical noise affects the system, it might be either additive or multiplicative. The analytic and non-analytic perturbations of the Mandelbrot map were expressed in a two-parameter deformation family of this map [
14]. Immediately afterward, the Julia set of the perturbed Mandelbrot map was investigated in detail [
15,
16]. Moreover, the noise-perturbed generalized Mandelbrot sets were considered by [
17], and by composing the additive and multiplicative noise, the perturbations of the generalized Mandelbrot set were also searched in [
18]. With the aid of developing computer drawing tools, this realm of study has blossomed rapidly and attracted significant interest in recent years [
19,
20,
21,
22,
23,
24]. For instance, Wang et al. presented a fractional Mandelbrot set [
25], studied its dynamics in some detail [
26], and then presented the impact of scale, memory, and impulse parameters on Mandelbrot sets and their fractal dimension [
27]. In order to create a new way of simulating fractal growth, a modified fractional diffusion-limited aggregation model was presented in [
28]. Additionally, the fractional quantum Julia set was introduced, which was based on the fractional
q-difference [
29]. This allowed comparing fractional fractal sets with classical Mandelbrot and Julia sets.
A new approach for the Mandelbrot set was also recently presented in [
30] depending on fuzzy set theory, which generalizes the classical set theory. As it is known, in a world with imprecise, uncertain, and partial knowledge, the conventional set theory is insufficiently expressive to provide the characterizations of input–output relations. A fuzzy set is introduced as a collection with nonspecific boundaries, and the degree of membership of an element in a fuzzy set is a number in the unit interval [
31,
32]. The new definition of fuzzy Mandelbrot set inspired the researchers to combine the two separated principles called the superior Mandelbrot set and fuzzy set in [
33]. In addition to them in [
34], the generalized fuzzy Mandelbrot and Mandelbar sets were researched in detail by assigning a membership value to each complex number under the iterations, even if the orbit of any complex number is not limited. In a recent study, fuzzy Julia sets as well as fuzzy superior Julia sets were examined, and additionally, a comparison of fuzzy Julia sets and fuzzy Mandelbrot sets was given in [
35]. Nevertheless, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, neither the fuzzy Mandelbric set has been examined standalone nor investigated the effects of its disturbances.
In light of the aforementioned existing discoveries, we have assigned a membership value to each complex number based on the velocities of escaping from the Mandelbric set that determines the grade of being an element of the fuzzy set. Moreover, we have discussed how dynamical additive or multiplicative noise affects this fuzzy Mandelbric set such that, with the aid of the new membership function, we have shown how the symmetry axes of the fuzzy Mandelbric set with additive noise perturbation change. Thus, we have seen that the regions of the complex numbers with the same membership degrees make a translation movement when additive noise perturbs them. We have proved that, even if the multiplicative noise does not disrupt the symmetry states of the fuzzy Mandelbric set, we have seen that the region of the complex numbers of the membership degree 1 in the fuzzy set is squeezed when multiplicative noise perturbs it.
Consequently, our novel approach determines the symmetry states of these fuzzy sets by leveraging the membership degrees of complex numbers, a departure from conventional methodologies in contrast to the established techniques documented in the recent literature. Since fractal-based techniques have been considered in signal processing for tasks such as image and data compression or encryption, newly discovered fuzzy fractals may be useful in these application areas.
3. Fuzzy Mandelbric Set and its Perturbations
In this section, after introducing the fuzzy Mandelbric set and its perturbations visualizing it, we generate an algorithm to identify each complex number’s membership degree.
Definition 3. Let be defined by the membership function given as - (i)
is called a fuzzy Mandelbric set provided that the iteration function is given by .
- (ii)
is called a fuzzy Mandelbric set with additive dynamic noise provided that the iteration function is given by , where is the additive noise variable and are the parameters specifying the intensity of noise.
- (iii)
is called fuzzy Mandelbric set with multiplicative dynamic noise provided that the iteration function is given by where and are the parameters specifying the multiplicative intensityof noise.
Remark 1. For notational simplicity, , , will be denoted by , , and , , will be denoted by , , , respectively.
The following Algorithm 1 allows us to identify the membership of any element
c in the fuzzy Mandelbric set or its perturbations.
Algorithm 1: Membership degree algorithm. |
|
3.1. Fuzzy Mandelbric Set
First, we especially consider the fuzzy Mandelbric set
to compare it with its additive and multiplicative noise perturbations given in the following subsection. For this purpose, we give some examples of determining the membership degrees of some given points and interpret the membership degrees of these points via the gray-scale figure of
to be drawn. We examine its topological and geometric characteristics and also visualize its three-dimensional images. Since the computer cannot handle infinitely many iterations, the maximum number of iterations should be restricted in order to depict the fuzzy Mandelbric set. Thus, let us draw the rough views of this fuzzy set in some ascending order of finite maximum iteration numbers—see
Figure 1.
Obviously, for further thought on the fuzzy Mandelbric set, we must increase the maximal number of iterations. In light of this, we gave the graphics of the fuzzy Mandelbric set for 200 iteration numbers but now from different side views in
Figure 2.
In the following examples, we calculate the membership degrees of some complex numbers conventionally to understand the running logic of the foregoing Algorithm 1. We spot these points in the gray-scale graph of the fuzzy Mandelbric set. Brightening tones of gray from black to white pixels correspond to the increasing membership degrees from 0 to 1 of complex numbers, as can be seen in
Figure 3.
Example 1. If we consider the complex number , it is evident that the iteration sequence is , that is, , and . Naturally, it is true that because for all implementation stages, then .
Example 2. If we consider the complex number , we find the iteration sequenceand it tends to infinity. Thus, it is seen that and at the sixth iteration implementation stage . Then, . Example 3. If we consider the complex number , we get the iteration sequencewhich tends to infinity. So, it is seen that and at the second iteration implementation stage . Hence, . Example 4. If we consider the complex number , we obtain the iteration sequencewhich tends to infinity. Thereby, it is seen that and at the third iteration implementation stage . Therefore, . Example 5. If we take the complex number , the iteration sequence isand it tends to infinity. Thus, it is seen that and also it is true that at the second iteration implementation stage . Consequently, . Example 6. If we consider the complex number , the iteration sequence isand it tends to infinity. Thereby, it is obvious that and for the first iteration implementation stage . So, since . Figure 3 immediately brings to mind the following lemmas.
Lemma 2. The fuzzy set is empty if and only if or for all .
Proof. Here, we have to show that iff . Obviously, iff , since for any . This requires that iff and . The second proposition is obvious by Definition 3 that iff for all . So, the proof is completed. □
Subsequently, based on Lemma 2, we can draw the following results.
Corollary 1. is the closed set .
Corollary 2. is compact.
From Lemma 2, we know that the empty fuzzy set corresponds to the open crisp set , and from Corollary 1, we recall that the support of the fuzzy Mandelbric set corresponds to the closed set . Also, one can notice that the core of the fuzzy Mandelbric set corresponds to the classical Mandelbric set, a well-known closed set. Accordingly, it is compact.
Besides the topology of the fuzzy Mandelbric set, the geometry of this fuzzy set is required to be investigated.
Lemma 3. is symmetric with respect to the real axis.
Proof. Primarily, let us
that is to say
for every
. Then,
since
such that the iteration is
for all
. Hence, it is obtained that
. Then, let us
whenever
and
for a
. Thereby, it is clear that
and
for the evaluation
. So,
As a result, it is obtained that so that the proof is completed. □
Lemma 4. is symmetric with respect to the origin.
Proof. Let us prove that for by induction. It is true that
for ,
for .
Suppose that
is true for
. Then, we see
is true for
.
By keeping this equality in mind, first, let us begin with , we know for all . Then, since for each . Hence, it is obtained that . Secondly, let us whenever and for a .
Thereby, it is clear that
and
for the evaluation
. So,
As a result, , and this completes the proof. □
Corollary 3. is symmetric with respect to the imaginary axis.
Proof. It is known from Lemma 3. Also, from Lemma 4. Consequently, . □
Theorem 3. The membership function of a fuzzy set is piece-wise continuous if it is defined bysuch that for . Proof. - (1)
is continuous for since is a constant function.
- (2)
is continuous for since is constant, too.
- (3)
There are the following cases for different iteration steps when . Let us examine only the case of , since there is a symmetry property with respect to the imaginary axis. The case of is shown in a similar manner.
If the sequence
escapes from the Mandelbric set in the second iteration step
, there is
. It is found that
because of
, see
Figure 4.
If the sequence
escapes from the Mandelbric set in the third iteration step
, there is
. Thus, we see
and
. These inequalities give us
. Consequently,
is obtained, see
Figure 5.
It is
for any step
. Then, it is clear that
.
is obtained if the party gathers
and
. On the other hand,
is obtained from
since
, see
Figure 6.
Similarly, is obtained for as the iteration steps diverge to infinity. Since the monotone functions defined on an interval are continuous when or , is continuous. Hence, the proof is completed. □
3.2. Noise Perturbations of Fuzzy Mandelbric Set
On the basis of Definition 3, fuzzy Mandelbric sets with different noise strengths
a and
m are illustrated in
Figure 7,
Figure 8,
Figure 9 and
Figure 10. By varying the levels of noise, the experimental outcomes have been seen in the following. To compare the effects of these noises on the fuzzy Mandelbric set, all membership values of the same complex numbers are calculated and given in
Table 1,
Table 2,
Table 3 and
Table 4.
3.2.1. Additive Noise Perturbation
Let us consider the fuzzy Mandelbric set
with additive noise variable
where the iteration function is
. By considering
, it is easily seen that all of those the complex numbers
for which the corresponding orbit of 0 that does not escape to infinity by iteration formula
constitutes the fuzzy Mandelbric set
without additive dynamic noise. Thus,
is a transformation of
along the direction of
a.
Lemma 5. is symmetric with respect to the point .
Proof. Let us prove that
for all
by induction. It is true that
for ,
for ,
for .
Suppose that
is true for
. Then, we prove that
is true for
.
Now, let us consider
. In this case, it is satisfied that
for all
. Then,
since
for each
. Hence, it is obtained that
. Secondly, let us prove that
. Then, there is a
providing
and
. So,
This means that
where
. Because it is well known that the symmetry of any point
with respect to point
is
, the proof is completed. □
The following corollary is a direct result of the previous Lemma.
Corollary 4. is symmetric with respect to the axis when and it is symmetric with respect to the axis when .
The numerical values in
Table 1 demonstrate that the complex numbers with the membership degree 1 and 0 are, respectively, white and black pixels, and the other membership values correspond to the pixels of different tones of gray in
Figure 7. Additionally, it is evident from the graphics in
Figure 7 that
is symmetric with respect to the axis
when
and it is symmetric with respect to the axis
when
. While the graphics show that regions of complex numbers with the same membership degrees make a translation movement when additive noise perturbs the fuzzy Mandelbric set,
Table 1 shows that the membership of complex numbers can change under such an effect.
3.2.2. Multiplicative Noise Perturbation
Let us consider the fuzzy Mandelbric set
with the parameters specifying the multiplicative intensity of noise
where the iteration function is
The experimental investigations for the fuzzy Mandelbric set given below show that, although the region of the complex numbers with membership degree 1 is compressed, their symmetries around the real and imaginary axes and the origin are preserved.
Lemma 6. is symmetric with respect to the real axis.
Proof. Let us prove that
for all
by induction. It is true that, for
, it can be seen below;
Suppose that
is true for
. Then, it is obvious that
is true for
.
First, let us prove that
, that is to say,
for every
. Then,
since
for all
. Hence, it is obtained that
. Now, let us prove that
, that is,
whenever
and
for a
. Since
and
for the evaluation
, there is the relation
As a result, it is obtained that so that the proof is completed. □
Lemma 7. is symmetric with respect to the origin.
Proof. It is easy to prove that
for all
where the iteration function is
by induction.
As a result, , and this completes the proof. □
Corollary 5. is symmetric with respect to the imaginary axis.
Proof. The proof is a direct result of by the facts from Lemma 6 and from Lemma 7. □
The numerical experiments show that the complex numbers with the membership degree 0 in
Table 2,
Table 3 and
Table 4 are the black pixels in the graphics in
Figure 8,
Figure 9 and
Figure 10, and this membership degree does not change even if multiplicative noise perturbs it. However, the complex numbers with the membership degree 1 in
can decrease, which means that the region of white pixels is compressed under the effects of multiplicative noise. Moreover, the assertions about symmetry states in Lemmas 6, 7, and Corollary 5 are obviously seen in
Figure 8,
Figure 9 and
Figure 10, that is, their symmetries around the real and imaginary axes and the origin are preserved.