Partial symmetries and dynamical systems

We start recalling the characterizing property of the ‘partial symmetries’ of a differential problem, that is, the property of transforming solutions into solutions only in a proper subset of the full solution set. This paper is devoted to analyze the role of partial symmetries in the special context of dynamical systems and also to compare this notion with other notions of ‘weak’ symmetries, namely, the λ‐symmetries and the orbital symmetries. Particular attention is addressed to discuss the relevance of partial symmetries in dynamical systems admitting homoclinic (or heteroclinic) manifolds, which can be ‘broken’ by periodic perturbations, thus giving rise, according to the (suitably rewritten) Mel'nikov theorem, to the appearance of a chaotic behavior of Smale‐horseshoes type. Many examples illustrate all the various aspects and situations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.