Classification and unfoldings of 1:2 resonant Hopf Bifurcation

In this paper, we study the bifurcations of periodic solutions from an equilibrium point of a differential equation whose linearization has two pairs of simple pure imaginary complex conjugate eigenvalues which are in 1:2 ratio. This corresponds to a Hopf-Hopf mode interaction with 1:2 resonance, as occurs in the context of dissipative mechanical systems. Using an approach based on Liapunov-Schmidt reduction and singularity theory, we give a framework in which to study these problems and their perturbations in two cases: no distinguished parameter, and one distinguished (bifurcation) parameter. We give a complete classification of the generic cases and their unfoldings. (Accepted May 26, 1995) – Communicated by M. Golubitsky