Searching for signatures of chaos in γ-ray light curves of selected <i>Fermi</i>-LAT blazars

ABSTRACT Blazar variability appears to be stochastic in nature. However, a possibility of low-dimensional chaos was considered the past, but with no unambiguous detection so far. If present, it would constrain emission mechanism by suggesting an underlying dynamical system. We rigorously searched for signatures Fermi-Large Area Telescope light curves 11 blazars. The data were comprehensively investigated using methods nonlinear time-series analysis: phase-space reconstruction, fractal dimension, and maximal Lyapunov exponent (mLE). tested several possible parameters affecting outcomes, particular mLE, order verify spuriousness outcomes. found signs any analysed is either truly nature or governed high-dimensional that can often resemble randomness.