Initialtilstanden

Initialtilstanden is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to refer to the state of a system at the start of an analysis, experiment, or simulation—the initial state or initial condition that, together with the governing laws, determines future behavior.

In mathematics and physics, the initialtilstanden is usually expressed as x(t0) = x0, indicating the values of variables at the initial time t0. For systems of differential equations, this condition yields a unique solution (within the limits of the model and any boundary conditions) when paired with the equations themselves.

In practical terms, the initialtilstanden is obtained from measurements, observations, or theoretical assumptions. It may include positions, velocities, temperatures, concentrations, or more generally a state vector in higher-dimensional models. The accuracy of the initial tilstanden significantly affects the reliability and predictive power of simulations and analyses.

In computing and simulations, the initial tilstanden serves to initialize the model data structures and state. In control theory and robotics, the initial state influences performance and stability, and state-estimation methods may be used to infer the initial tilstanden when it is not fully observable.

See also: initial condition; boundary condition; state vector; state estimation; chaos theory.

---