 Mandelbrot set

For $f_c(z)=z^2+c$, the Mandelbrot set is $\mathcal{M}=\{c:\{f_c^n(0){\}}_{n\ge 0}\text{ is bounded}\}$. Thus it records the nonescaping finite critical orbit. The connected Julia set criterion for a polynomial says that the corresponding filled Julia set is connected exactly for these quadratic parameters. Parameters with an attracting fixed point form the main cardioid: its multiplier $\lambda$ gives the fixed point $\lambda /2$ and parameter $c=\lambda /2-{\lambda }^2/4$, with $|\lambda |<1$. Its boundary has a cusp at $c=1/4$. There the critical orbit increases along the real interval to the parabolic fixed point $1/2$, so the cusp belongs to the set. The real section extends from $-2$ to $1/4$; the familiar period-two bulb is attached at $-3/4$.

The Mandelbrot set is a famous and visually stunning fractal named after the mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot. It is defined in the complex number plane and is created by iterating a simple mathematical formula.