On a computational method for the second fundamental tensor and its application to bifurcation problems

Summary An algorithm is presented for the computation of the second fundamental tensorV of a Riemannian submanifoldM ofRⁿ. FromV the riemann curvature tensor ofM is easily obtained. Moreover,V has a close relation to the second derivative of certain functionals onM which, in turn, provides a powerful new tool for the computational determination of multiple bifurcation directions. Frequently, in applications, thed-dimensional manifoldM is defined implicitly as the zero set of a submersionF onRⁿ. In this case, the principal cost of the algorithm for computingV(p) at a given pointpM involves only the decomposition of the JacobianDF(p) ofF atp and the projection ofd(d+1) neighboring points ontoM by means of a local iterative process usingDF(p). Several numerical examples are given which show the efficiency and dependability of the method.Dedicated to R. S. Varga on the occasion of his sixtieth birthdayThis work was in part supported by the National Science Foundation (DCR-8309926) and the Office of Naval Research (N-00014-80-C09455). The second author began some of the work while visiting the University of Heidelberg/Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt Senior U.S. Scientist