Abstract
In this paper, a chaotic quaternion autonomous nonlinear structure is introduced and intends to be a contribution. It is the first nonlinear dynamical system with quaternion variables to be studied in the literature. With nine dimensions, the new system is a high-dimensional one. Several vital characteristics and features of this model are investigated, such as its Hamiltonian, symmetry, signal flow graph, dissipation, equilibriums and their stability, Lyapunov exponents, Lyapunov dimension, bifurcation diagrams, and chaotic behavior. A circuit implementation is designed to realize the new system, and a scheme is designed to achieve anti-anticipating synchronization (AAS) of two identical chaotic attractors with quaternion variables based on a Lyapunov function and active control. The concept of AAS is yet to be explored in the literature. A simulation experiment is designed and executed to illustrate the effectiveness of the acquired results. After synchronization, numerical outcomes are planned to explain the status variables and errors of these chaotic attractors to prove that AAS is achieved. The secure communication problem is studied based on the obtained events of the AAS of two identical nonlinear Lorenz systems with quaternion variables. AAS connecting the drive and response systems in chaotic systems with quaternion variables is the key to achieving communication. Signal encryption and restoration are simulated numerically.