Pseudo-billiards

A new class of Hamiltonian dynamical systems with two degrees of freedom and kinetic energy of the form T = c₁|p₁| + c₂|p₂| (called “pseudo-billiards”) is studied. For any kind of interaction, the canonical equations can always be integrated on sequential time intervals; i.e. in principle all the trajectories can be found explicitly.

Depending on the potential, a dynamical system of this class can either be completely integrable or behave just as a usual non-integrable Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom: in its phase space there exist invariant tori, stochastic layers, domains of global chaos, etc. Pseudo-billiard models of both the types are considered.

If a potential of a pseudo-billiard system has critical points (equilibria), then trajectories close to these points (“loops”) can exist; they can be treated as images of self-localized objects with finite duration. Such a model (with quartic potential) is also studied.     

Bifurcations and transition states

Bifurcations of reaction channels are related to valley-ridge inflection points and it is examined what happens when these do not coincide with transition states. Under such conditions there result bifurcating regions. There exist a number of different prototypes for such regions which are discussed explicitly on the basis of the pertinent Taylor expansions. When bifurcations occur close enough to transition states then there result bifurcating transition regions. An example for a bifurcating transition region is exhibited which is obtained from a quantum mechanical ab initio calculation for the ring opening of cyclopropylidene to aliene. In general there exist no orthogonal trajectory patterns which could serve as simplified models for channel bifurcations.Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Iowa State University under Contract No. W-7405-ENG-82. This work was supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences     

Non-linear global dynamics of an axially moving plate

In the present study, the geometrically non-linear dynamics of an axially moving plate is examined by constructing the bifurcation diagrams of Poincaré maps for the system in the sub and supercritical regimes. The von Kármán plate theory is employed to model the system by retaining in-plane displacements and inertia. The governing equations of motion of this gyroscopic system are obtained based on an energy method by means of the Lagrange equations which yields a set of second-order non-linear ordinary differential equations with coupled terms. A change of variables is employed to transform this set into a set of first-order non-linear ordinary differential equations. The resulting equations are solved using direct time integration, yielding time-varying generalized coordinates for the in-plane and out-of-plane motions. From these time histories, the bifurcation diagrams of Poincaré maps, phase-plane portraits, and Poincaré sections are constructed at points of interest in the parameter space for both the axial speed regimes.     

Quasipatterns versus superlattices resulting from the superposition of two hexagonal patterns

We present a short review of the experimental observations and mechanisms related to the generation of quasipatterns and superlattices by the Faraday instability with two-frequency forcing. We show how two-frequency forcing makes possible triad interactions that generate hexagonal patterns, twelvefold quasipatterns or superlattices that consist of two hexagonal patterns rotated by an angle α relative to each other. We then consider which patterns could be observed when α does not belong to the set of prescribed values that give rise to periodic superlattices. Using the Swift–Hohenberg equation as a model, we find that quasipattern solutions exist for nearly all values of α. However, these quasipatterns have not been observed in experiments with the Faraday instability for $\alpha \ne \mathrm{\pi }/6$. We discuss possible reasons and mention a simpler framework that could give some hint about this problem.     

Variability in the noise-induced modes of climate dynamics

New features of noise-induced climate variability are revealed on the basis of the three-dimensional model derived by Saltzman and Maasch. It is shown that the climate system can be highly noise excitable and it possesses the large-amplitude fluctuations even in those regions where its akin deterministic model does not contain any self-sustained oscillations. Intermittency in small- and large amplitude climate fluctuations between different basins of attraction of a limit cycle and stable equilibria substantially influencing the climate state (from warm to cold and vice versa) are found at various noise intensities. Suddenly occurring jumps between the basins of attraction of two stable equilibria corresponding to the warm and cold climate states are statistically confirmed under a certain diapason of noise intensities. The climate system undergoes transitions between its equilibria in the presence of noise in its prognostic variables. In addition, such transitions become more likely with increasing the noise intensity.     

Steady-state solutions in a three-dimensional nonlinear pool-boiling heat-transfer model

We consider a relatively simple model for pool-boiling processes. This model involves only the temperature distribution within the heater and describes the heat exchange with the boiling medium via a nonlinear boundary condition imposed on the fluid-heater interface. This results in a standard heat-transfer problem with a nonlinear Neumann boundary condition on part of the boundary. In a recent paper [Speetjens M, Reusken A, Marquardt W. Steady-state solutions in a nonlinear pool-boiling model. IGPM report 256, RWTH Aachen. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, in press, doi:10.1016/j.cnsns.2006.11.002] we analysed this nonlinear heat-transfer problem for the case of two space dimensions and in particular studied the qualitative structure of steady-state solutions. The study revealed that, depending on system parameters, the model allows both multiple homogeneous and multiple heterogeneous temperature distributions on the fluid-heater interface. In the present paper we show that the analysis from Speetjens et al. (doi:10.1016/j.cnsns.2006.11.002) can be generalised to the physically more realistic case of three space dimensions. A fundamental shift-invariance property is derived that implies multiplicity of heterogeneous solutions. We present a numerical bifurcation analysis that demonstrates the multiple solution structure in this mathematical model by way of a representative case study.     

Desynchronization transitions in nonlinearly coupled phase oscillators

We consider the nonlinear extension of the Kuramoto model of globally coupled phase oscillators where the phase shift in the coupling function depends on the order parameter. A bifurcation analysis of the transition from fully synchronous state to partial synchrony is performed. We demonstrate that for small ensembles it is typically mediated by stable cluster states, that disappear with creation of heteroclinic cycles, while for a larger number of oscillators a direct transition from full synchrony to a periodic or a quasiperiodic regime occurs.     

Existence of periodic orbits and shift-invariant curve sequences near multiple homoclinics简

In this paper, the complicated dynamics is studied near a double homoclinic loops with bellows configuration for general systems. For the non-twisted multiple homoclinics, the existence of periodic orbit with the specified route and the existence of shift-invariant curve sequences defined on the cross sections of multiple homoclinics corresponding to any specified one-side infinite sequences are given. In addition, the existence regions are also located.     

New families of pure gravity waves in water of infinite depth

Nonlinear periodic gravity waves propagating at a constant velocity at the surface of a fluid of infinite depth are considered. The fluid is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible and the flow to be irrotational. It is known that there are both regular waves (for which all the crests are at the same height) and irregular waves (for which not all the crests are at the same height). We show numerically the existence of new branches of irregular waves which bifurcate from the branch of regular waves. Our results suggest there are an infinite number of such branches. In addition we found additional new branches of irregular waves which bifurcate from the previously calculated branches of irregular waves.     

The Parametrically Forced Pendulum: A Case Study in 1 1/2 Degree of Freedom

This paper is concerned with the global coherent (i.e., non-chaotic) dynamics of the parametrically forced pendulum. The system is studied in a === degree of freedom Hamiltonian setting with two parameters, where a spatio-temporal symmetry is taken into account. Our explorations are restricted to large regions of coherent dynamics in phase space and parameter plane. At any given parameter point we restrict to a bounded subset of phase space, using KAM theory to exclude an infinitely large region with rather trivial dynamics. In the absence of forcing the system is integrable. Analytical and numerical methods are used to study the dynamics in a parameter region away from integrability, where the analytic results of a perturbation analysis of the nearly integrable case are used as a starting point. We organize the dynamics by dividing the parameter plane in fundamental domains, guided by the linearized system at the upper and lower equilibria. Away from integrability some features of the nearly integrable coherent dynamics persist, while new bifurcations arise. On the other hand, the chaotic region increases.2000 Mathematical Subject Classification: 37J20, 37J40, 37M20, 70H08.Dedicated to Professor Shui-Nee Chow on the occasion of his 60th birthday.