Fractional Maps and Fractional Attractors. Part I: $\alpha$-Families of Maps

In this paper we present a uniform way to derive families of maps from the corresponding differential equations describing systems which experience periodic kicks. The families depend on a single parameter - the order of a differential equation $\alpha >0$. We investigate general properties of such families and how they vary with the increase in $\alpha$ which represents increase in the space dimension and the memory of a system (increase in the weights of the earlier states). To demonstrate general properties of the $\alpha$-families we use examples from physics (Standard $\alpha$-family of maps) and population biology (Logistic $\alpha$-family of maps). We show that with the increase in $\alpha$ systems demonstrate more complex and chaotic behavior.